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Counsel  and  comfort  for 
daily  life 


VOL 


ktc  & 


COUNSEL    AND    COMFORT 


DAILY     LIFE. 


COUNSEL  AND  COMFORT 


FOR 


DAILY    LIFE 


"  Speak  Lord,  for  thy  servant  heareth." 

"  Speak  therefore  unto  me  for  the  comfort  of  my  soul,  and  to 
the  amendment  of  my  whole  life,  and  to  thy  praise,  and  glory, 
and  honor  everlasting. 


NEW-YORK: 

THOMAS      WHITTAKER, 
No.  2  Bible  House. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1872,  by 

The   Phot.   Episcopal    Society  foe  the  Promotion 

of  Evangelical  Knowledge. 

In  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  "Washington. 


<IAN0    STMEOTYPt     FOUNDRY. 
IU«F01IC     COUNTY,     N.    Y. 


PREFACE. 

This  little  book  is  simply  a  collection  of 
religious  thoughts  that  have  been  gathered 
from  many  sources  during  the  last  few  years, 
and  published  in  the  Parish  Visitor.  The 
desire  of  extending  their  influence  has  in- 
duced their  republication  in  a  more  conve- 
nient and  permanent  form.  To  many  the 
selections  will  be  new.  By  others  they  will 
be  welcomed  as  old  friends  that,  from  time 
to  time,  have  helped  them  on  their  way. 

These  thoughts  are  again  sent  forth  for 
the  counsel  and  comfort  of  Christ's  people, 
with  the  earnest  prayer  that  through  the 
Divine  blessing  on  their  silent  ministry, 
many  may  be  strengthened  and  refreshed  in 
their  daily  life. 


PUBLISHED      BY 

A   LAYMAN, 

AS   A 

TO    GOD. 


COUNSEL  AND  COMFOET 
FOR    DAILY    LIFE 


THE  KNOWLEDGE  OF   GOD. 

THE  knowledge  of  God  is  gained,  as  the 
knowledge  of  man  is  gained,  by  living 
much  with  Him.  If  we  only  come  across  a 
man  occasionally,  and  in  public,  and  see 
nothing  'of  him  in  his  private  and  domestic 
life,  wre  cannot  be  said  to  know7  him.  All 
the  knowledge  of  God  which  many  profess- 
iDg  Christians  have,  is  derived  from  a 
formal  salute  which  they  make  to  Him  in 
their  prayers,  when  they  rise  up  in  the 
morning,  and  lie  down  at  night.  While  this 
state  of  things  lasts,  no  great  progress  in 
the   Christian  life   can  possibly  be  made. 

(7) 


&  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

No  progress  would  be  made,  even  if  they 
were  to  offer  stated  prayer  seven  times  a  day, 
instead  of  twice.  But  try  to  draw  down 
God  into  your  daily  work ;  consult  Him 
about  it ;  offer  it  to  Him  as  a  contribution 
to  His  service ;  ask  Him  to  help  you  in  it ; 
do  it  as  to  the  Lord  and  not  unto  men  ;  refer 
to  Him  in  your  temptations ;  seek  a  refuge 
under  the  shadow  of  His  wings  until  the 
tyranny  of  temptation  be  overpast ;  go  back 
at  once  to  His  bosom,  when  you  are  conscious 
of  a  departure  from  Him,  not  waiting"  till 
night  to  confess  it,  lest  meanwhile  the  night 
of  death  should  overtake  you,  or  at  best  you 
should  lose  time  in  your  spiritual  course ; 
in  short,  walk  hand  in  hand  with  God 
through  life  (as  a  little  child  walks  hand  in 
hand  with  its  father  over  some  dangerous 
and  thorny  road),  dreading  above  all  things 
to  quit  His  Bide,  and  assured  that,  as 

:i  do  so,  you  will  fall  into  mischief  and 


FOE  DAILY  LIFE.  9 

trouble.  Seek  not  so  much  to  pray,  as  to  live 
in  an  atmosphere  of  prayer,  lifting  up  your 
heart  momentarily  to  Him  in  varied  expres- 
sions of  devotion,  as  the  various  occasions 
of  life  may  prompt,  adoring  Him,  thanking 
Him,  resigning  your  will  to  Him  many  times 
a  day,  and  more  or  less  ail  day;  and  you 
shall  thus,  as  you  advance  in  this  practice, 
as  it  becomes  more  and  more  habitual  to 
you,  increase  in  that  knowledge  of  God 
which  fully  contents  and  satisfies  the  soul. 


0  GOD!   MY  HEAKT  IS  FIXED  I 

My  whole  desire 

Doth  deeply  turn  away 

Out  of  all  time,  unto  eternal  day. 

I  give  myself,  and  all  I  call  my  own, 

To  Christ  forever,  to  be  His  alone. 

I  leave  the  world, 

Its  wealth  allures  not  me  : 

With  God  alone,  will  I  contented  be. 


IO  COVNSEL  AXD   COMFORT 

The  creature  shall  no  longer  fill  my  mind  ; 
In  the  Creator,  what  I  -want  I  find. 

Nc  w,  0  my  God  ! 

My  comfort,  portior,  rest ! 

Than,  none  but  Thou,  shalt  reign  within  my  breast. 

Call  me  to  Thee  !  call  me  Thyself— oh  !  speak, 

And  bind  my  heart  to  Thee,  whom  most  I  seek  ! 

Then  let  me  dwell 

But  as  a  pilgrim  hero  : 

One  to  whom  earth  seems  distant — heaven  more  near. 

Let  this  my  joy,  my  life,  my  life-work  be, 

To  die  to  self— to  live,  my  Lord,  to  Thee. 

I  know  this  road 

Through  narrow  straits  doth  wend, 

"Wherein  my  stubborn  will  must  stoop  and  bend. 

Jesus,  I  offer  unto  Thee  my  will — 

Thy  love  can  make  it  humble,  sweet  and  still. 

Thou  art  my  King — 

My  King  henceforth  alone  ; 

And  I  Thy  servant,  Lord,  am  all  Thine  own. 

Give  me  Thy  Btrength  :  oh  !  lot  Thy  dwelling  be 

In  this  poor  heart  thai  pants,  my  Lord,  for  Thee 


FOE  DAILY  LIFE.  I  I 

WAITING  IN  FAITH. 

You  pray  for  some  grace ;  you  are  an- 
swered by  a  temptation  for  which  this  grace 
is  peculiarly  needed.  Is  not  this  a  swift  an- 
swer to  prayer,  that  you  may  learn  at  once 
the  hopelessness  of  self-effort,  and  cast  your- 
self on  Him  who  says  :  "  Call  upon  Me  and 
I  will  answer  thee,  and  show  thee  great  and 
mighty  things  that  thou  knowest  not "  ? 

You  desire  some  gift.  Are  you  fitted  for 
it  ?  Were  the  Israelites  prepared  to  enter 
the  promised  land  as  soon  as  they  had 
passed  the  Ked  Sea  ?  The  spiritual  blessing 
may  seem  near,  almost  realized,  and  then  by 
some  strange  winding  of  our  course  be  fa- 
ther off  than  ever.  Discouraged,  we  cry: 
"  Hath  God  forgotten  to  be  gracious  ?  Hath 
He  in  anger  shut  up  His  tender  mercies?" 
Na}T,  "If  thou  criest  after  knowledge,  and 
liftest  up  thy  voice  for  understanding;  if 
thou  seekest  her  as  silver,  and  searchest  for 


12  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

her  as  for  hid  treasures ;  then  shalfc  thou 
understand  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  and  find 
the  knowledge  of  God."  Such  gifts  are  not 
received  in  some  sudden  effusion  of  the 
Spirit,  but  by  means  which  often  make  us 
think  our  failures  are  greater,  as  morning 
light  will  disclose  much  that  twilight  con- 
ceals. 

Be  of  good  courage !  God  will  have  re- 
gard to  the  work  of  His  own  hands.  "With 
joy  He  hears  you  plead.  If  the  natural 
prayer  is  often  denied  for  blessing,  the 
prayer  for  grace,  is  for  God's  glory ;  it  is 
indicted  by  the  Holy  Spirit ;  it  must  be  an- 
swered ;  it  is  the  will  of  God.  Though  it 
tarry,  wait  for  it. 


WHEREIN  WE  HAVE  PEA.CE. 

See  the  simplicity  of  the  ground  on  which 
your  peace  is  to  rest.     God  is  well  pleased 

in  the  finished  work  of  Christ,  "  well  pleased 


FOE  DAILY  LIFE.  I  3 

for  His  righteousness'  sake."  That  right- 
eousness is  not  founded  upon  your  feelings 
or  experience,  but  upon  the  shed  blood  of  the 
Lamb  of  God,  and  hence  your  peace  is  not 
dependent  upon  your  feelings  or  experience, 
but  upon  the  precious  blood  which  is  of 
changeless  efficacy  and  changeless  value  in 
the  judgment  of  God. 


'•HAVING  NOTHING." 

Source  of  all  good  to  which  I  aspire, 

Saviour  most  kind, 
This  is  ray  hope  and  only  desire, 

Thy  favor  to  find. 

My  weakness  and  sin,  my  weariness,  Lord, 

Are  known  unto  Thee  ; 
From  heaven,  whence  all  Thy  bounties  are  poured, 

My  want  Thou  dost  see. 

Thou  knowest  what  good  my  spirit  doth  need 

AH  others  above, 
And  how  I  am  poor  in  all  things,  indeed, 

But  most  in  Thy  love. 


14  COUNSEL   AND    COMFORT 

Poor,  wretched,  and  needy,  I  lie  at  Thy  feet, 

Beseeching  Thy  grace  ; 
And  wait,  though  unworthy,  for  what  I  entreat. 

A  sight  of  Thy  face. 

Look  down  on  a  heart  which  only  doth  seek 

By  Thee  to  be  fed— 
Which  weary,  and  hungry,  and  guilty,  and  weak, 

Asks  heavenly  bread. 

These  icicles  melt  by  the  light  of  Thy  face, 

Which  hang  in  my  heart, 
And  fill  my  whole  soul  with  the  shinings  of  grace, 

Till  darkness  depart. 

Be  Thou  the  sole  glory  and  Thou  the  chief  good, 

My  heart  to  control  } 
And  be  Thou  the  daily  and  hourly  food, 

To  nourish  my  soul. 

Become  its  rejoicing,  its  stronghold  of  love, 

Its  aim  and  its  end  ; 
Its  glory  on  earth,  and  its  glory  above, 
0  Jesus,  my  friend. 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE. 


i5 


"HE  MUST  INCREASE,   I  MUST  DECREASE." 

It  is  the  Lord's  love  to  me  I  would  see, 
not  mine  to  Him.  I  want  to  look  at  Him 
till  I  am  not.  This  will  not  be,  when  I  find 
myself  having  more  love  to  God,  more  holi- 
ness, but  when  I  lose  myself  and  see  Him 
to  be  my  wisdom,  righteousness,  sanctifica- 
tion,  redemption. 


.      OUR  PORTION. 

We  do  not  half  realize  the  strength  of 
that  expression  in  the  Bible,  "  Rejoice  in  the 
Lord."  It  is  not,  Rejoice  in  your  health ; 
it  is  not,  Rejoice  in  your  prosperity ;  it 
is  not  Rejoice  in  your  wealth ;  it  is  nor, 
Rejoice  in  your  honor,  or  in  your  in- 
fluence, or  in  those  gifts  which  are  the 
sources  of  most  of  our  joy — it  is,  "  Rejoice 
in  the  Lord."  "We  are  strong  in  God.  Most 
of  us  do  not  know  our  joy  and  our  strength, 
and  die  without  realizing  them. 


I  6  COUSSEL  AXD    COMFORT 

What  a  pitiful  thing  it  -would  be  to  see  a 
man  live  all  his  life  a  pauper,  and  to  find 
out  just  after  he  was  buried  that  he  was 
heir  to  an  immense  estate,  that,  held  in 
trust,  was  waiting  for  him  !  How  sad  it 
would  be  for  a  man  to  be  the  unknown  heir 
of  a  vast  property,  and  yet  live  his  whole 
life  in  poverty,  and  die  without  knowing 
anything  about  it,  or  having  a  penny  of 
it!  And  yet  there  are  thousands  who 
are  doing  this  in  regard  to  spiritual  things. 
They  are  living  all  their  life  long  with  an 
immense  estate  close  by  them,  and  not 
knowing  anything  about  it,  they  do  not 
break  through  and  take  possession  of  it. 


ALL  THINGS  ARE  YOURS. 

While  toil  and  warfare  urge  us  on  our  way, 
And  heart  is  answering  heart  in  sighs  of  pain, 
wo  no  words  of  o  ing  joy  to  say — 

No  songs  for  those  who  suffer  but  to  reign  ? 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  1 7 

Behold  the  paths  of  life  are  ours    we  see 
Our  blest  inheritance  where'er  we  tread  ; 

Sorrow  and  danger  our  security, 

And  disappointment  lifting  up  our  head. 

Kings  unto  God,  we  may  not  doubt  our  power, 
We  may  not  languish  when  He  says  "Be  strong "-— 

We  must  move  on  through  every  adverse  hour, 
And  take  possession  as  we  pass  along. 

Yes,  all  is  for  us — nothing  shall  withstand 
Our  faithful,  valiant,  j>ersevering  claim  ; 

The  rod  of  God's  Anointed  in  our  hand, 
And  oot  assurance  His  unchanging  name. 

We  need  no  haste  when  He  has  said  "  Be  still " — 
No  peace  when  He  has  charged  us  to  contend  ; 

Only  the  fearless  love  to  do  His  will, 
And  to  show  forth  His  honor  to  the  end. 

Oh  ye  that  faint  and  die,  arise  and  live  ! 

Sing,  ye  that  all  things  have  a  charge  to  bless  ! 
If  He  is  faithful  who  hath  sworn  to  give, 

Then  be  ye  also  faithful  and  possess. 
2 


lo  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

THE  MORNING  QUESTION. 

On !  that  every  morning,  waking  in  the 
presence  of  God,  the  salutation  which  the 
first  ray  of  recovered  light  brought  to  us, 
could  be,  "Child  of  God,  handmaid  of  the 
Lord,  a  forgiven  and  a  consecrated  being  !" 
What  alacrity  it  would  give  to  our  move- 
ments, what  reality  to  our  communion  with 
God,  what  earnestness  and  sweetness  to  our 
intercourse  with  one  another ! 

If  every  morning,  if  but  one  morning,  the 
whole  multitude  of  believers,  tho  whole 
family  on  earth,  would  gather  round  the 
Father,  and  each  ask,  "Lord,  what,  tlda  day, 
wouldst  Thou  have  me  to  do  ?" — as  one  by 
one  left  the  Royal  Audience,  each  with  a 
special  communion,  what  a  rich  day  that 
would  be  for  tho  Church  and  tho  world! 
What  broken  hearts  would  be  bound  up! 
what  feeble  hands  would  be  lifted  up!  what 
blind   eyea  would   be    opened !   how   many 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  *9 

tears  would  be  wiped  away !  how  m&ny 
burdens  lightened!  how  many  lost  souls 
brought  back  !  how  many  weary,  "  because 
of  the  way,"  would  be  sent  "  on  their  way 
rejoicing !" 


"YfHAT  WILT  THOU   HAVE  ME  TO  DO?" 

Hast  Th^u,  my  Master,  aught  for  me  to  do 

To  honor  Thee  to-day  ? 
Hast  Thou  a  word  of  love  to  some  poor  soul 

That  mine  may  say  ? 
For,  see  this  world  that  Thou  hast  made  so  fair, 

"Within  its  heart  is  sad  ; 
Thousands  are  lonely,  thousands  sigh  and  weep, 

But  few  are  glad. 

But  which  among  them  all  is  mine  to-day  ?  ; 

Oh  !  guide  my  willing  feet 
To  some  poor  soul  that,  fainting  on  the  way 

Needs  counsel  sweet ; 
Or  into  some  sick-room,  where  I  may  speak 

"With  tenderness  of  Thee  ; 
And,  showing  who  and  what  Thou  art,  0  Christ ! 

Bid  sorrow  flee  ! 


20  COUNSEL  AXD    CO M  FORT 

Or,  unto  one  whose  straits  call  not  for  words— 

To  one  in  want — in  need  ; 
Who  wills  not  counsel,  but  would  take  from  me 

A  loving  deed. 
Surely,  Thou  hast  some  work  for  me  to  do  ; 

Oh  !  open  Thou  mine  eyes, 
To  see  how  Thou  wouldst  have  it  done, 

And  where  it  lies. 


THE    MINISTRY  OF  SORROW. 

The  day  will  come  when  the  veil  shall  be 
taken  away,  and  then  shall  we  see  clearly 
how  all  things  have  worked  together  for  the 
good  of  those  that  love  God.  Not  in  the 
days  of  peace,  of  calm  delight  in  the  Lord's 
house,  of  sweet  content  in  good  works,  in 
duties  gladly  done,  have  we  grown  strong  in 
the  faith  as  it  is  in  Jesus;  but  in  the  times 
when  all  confidence  in  ourselves  had  van- 
ished, when  -in  and  r . - 7 » i j » i .•  i ( i < > 1 1  were  wildest, 
and  we  had  no  other  anchor  or  refuge  but 
the  "Rock  of  Ages;"  when  we  turned  away 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  21 

from  the  examination  of  our  hearts  with 
loathing,  to  Jesus,  the  Author  and  Finisher 
of  our  faith.  And  so  shall  we  see  that  as  in 
onr  spiritual  things,  our  deficiencies  and  sins 
have  filled  us  with  repentance,  and  led  us 
nearer  to  the  feet  of  our  Lord,  so  in  our 
temporal  things  have  we  been  dealt  with  by 
a  wise  and  tender  Father,  who  has  measured 
out  to  us  joy  and  sorrow,  prosperity  and 
adversity,  as  best  we  were  able  to  bear  it. 


THE  FAITH   THAT   MOVES   MOUNTAINS. 

The  faith  that  deviseth  great  things  is  the 
faith  which  is  intimate  with  God,  and  in 
sympathy  with  His  mind.  The  faith  that 
attempts  and  accomplishes  great  things  is 
the  faith  that  goes  straight  to  God  in  every- 
thing, and  deals  directly  with  Him,  main- 
taining unbroken  the  peace  of  conscience 
springing  from  the  knowledge  of  the  great 
blood-shedding,  and  holding  fast  the  fellow- 


2  2  COUNSEL   AXD    COMFORT 

ship  wliicli  the  reconciling  blood  enables  us 
constantly  to  realize.  It  is  this  faith  that 
does  great  things,  for  it  is  faith  that  never 
loses  sight  of  God  in  any  part  of  the  work. 
It  counts  upon  success  simply  because  it 
knows  that  the  work  is  God's,  and  that 
whatever  He  is  trusted  for,  assuredly  Gomes 
to  pass.  It  does  not  trust  to  accomplish 
small  things  because  they  are  small ;  nor 
does  it  despond  as  to  the  achieving  great 
things  because  they  are  great.  It  looks  not 
to  the  nature  of  the  work,  nor  regards 
either  its  facilities  or  its  difficulties;  it  looks 
alone  to  Him  whose  work  it  is :  who  never 
fails  His  workmen  ;  avIio  is  ever  at  hand  for 
strength  and  succor. 


WHAT  ALL  MAY  DO. 

You  know  how  often  it  is  difficult  to  be 
wisely  charitable,  to  do  good  without  multi- 
plying tho  sources  of  evil.     You  know  that 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  23 

to  give  alms  is  nothing  unless  you  give 
thought  also,  and  that  therefore  it  is  written, 
not,  "Blessed  is  lie  that  feedeth  the  poor,  but 
"  Blessed  is  he  that  considereth  the  poor." 
And  you  know  that  a  little  thought  and  a 
little  kindness,  are  often  worth  more  than  a 
great  deal  of  money. 


"BEING  PERPLEXED." 

It  is  better  to  go  at  once  to  Jesus  with 
our  difficulties.  We  are  worried  and  per- 
plexed. Why  not  tell  Jesus  first  instead  of 
running  with  our  griefs  to  our  friends? 
However  willing  they  may  be,  they  are  often 
unable  to  help  us.  The  Christian  who  has 
learned  to  lean  on  Jesus  for  counsel  and 
comfort,  has  learned  the  secret  of  the  Lord — 
"The  peace  that  passetli  understanding." 
If  we  lived  in  the  spirit  of  the  following 
simple  lines,  what  a  load  of  care  would  be 
taken  from  our  hearts  ! 


-4  COUXSEL  AND    C0MF0H1 

"Being  perplexed,  I  say. 
Lord,  make  it  right  ! 
Night  is  as  day  to  Thee, 
Darkness  is  light. 
I  am  afraid  to  touch 
Things  that  involve  so  much  : 
My  trembling  hand  may  shake, 
My  skilless  hand  may  break ; 
Thine  can  make  no  mistake. 

• '  Being  in  doubt,  I  say, 
Lord,  make  it  plain  ! 
Which  is  the  true,  safe  way  ? 
Which  would  be  vain  ? 
I  am  not  wise  to  know, 
Nor  sure  of  foot,  to  go. 
My  blind  eyes  cannot  see 
What  is  so  clear  to  Thee. 
Lord,  make  it  clear  to  me." 


SINS    REMEMBERED    NO   MORE. 

"Would  it  have  been  possible  for  God  to 
Lave  chosen  words  to  express  more  point- 
edly and  more  vividly  the  utter  putting  out 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  2  3 

of  remembrance  the  sins  of  His  people  than 
in  such  terms  of  love  as  these  ? 

"  I  have  blotted  out,  as  a  thick  cloud,  thy 
transgressions,  and,  as  a  cloud,  thy  sins." 
Who  could  attempt  to  gather  together  again 
the  particles  of  a  cloud  that  had  been  all 
dispersed  ? 

"  Thou  wilt  cast  all  their  sins  into  the 
depths  of  the  sea."  "Who  would  think  of 
looking  for  a  lost  thing  in  "  the  depths  of 
the  sea "?  How  perfectly  it  conveys  the 
idea  of  something  profoundly  hidden  out  of 
sight ! 

"  Blessed  is  he  whose  sin  is  covered." 
When  God  has  put  a  covering,  shall  man 
dare  to  lift  it  off?  Yet  He  has  "covered" 
the  sins  of  His  pardoned  ones. 

"  Thou  hast  cast  all  my  sins  behind  Thy 
back,"  and  therefore  they  are  no  more  "  in 
the  light  of  Thy  countenance ;"  Thou  look- 
est  on  them  no  more. 


2  6  COUNSEL  AXD   COMFORT 

"  As  far  as  the  oast  is  from  the  west,  so 
far  hath   He  removed   our  transgressions 

from  us."     He  has  literally  put  them,  may 
we  not  say,  out  of  our  reach  ? 

Yea,  we  may  search  for  them,  but  "  they 
shall  not  be  found."  God  remembers  them 
no  more. 


FULL    REST    IN    JESUS. 

Jesus  is  not  only  the  Forgiver  of  sin,  but 
also  the  Deliverer  from  its  pbiver.  He  that 
abideth  in  Him  sinneth  not:  he  is  passed 
from  death  unto  life.  "  The  blood  of  Jesus 
Christ  cleanseth  from  all  sin." 

This  truth  is  strikingly  illustrated  in  the 
following  extract : 

"  The  beautiful  pebble  lies  by  the  road- 
side, where  every  passing  wheel  shall  cast 
dust  upon  it.  Often  as  it  is  cleansed  by  the 
showers  of  heaven,  it  must  always  be  again 
Boiled.     But  if  some  hind  hand  shall  place 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  2  J 

it  beneath  the  flowing  stream,  it  is  not  only 
cleansed,  but  kept  pure  evermore  by  the 
eternal  waters.  The  clouds  of  dust  and 
defilement  shall  never  penetrate  that  stream, 
and  in  its  eternal  waters,  the  pebble  shall 
evermore  reflect  the  rays  of  the  sun  which 
shines  upon  it.  It  is  thus  with  the  soul 
which,  abiding  in  Christ,  is  by  faith  able  to 
say,  moment  by  moment,  '  The  Rood  cleans- 
eth:  " 


DESULTORY  WOEK. 

Dueixg  the  waiting  season,  while  God 
withholds  active  work  from  the  believer,  He 
often  gives  little  services  to  do  for  Him  ; 
work  that  may  happen  one  day,  and  not 
another — "here  a  little,  and  there  a  little  " — 
and  which  is  often  left  undone,  just  because 
it  is  desultoiy,  and  apparently  so  small  in 
its  results.  Many,  however,  are  now  in 
heaven  who  would  never  have   known  the 


28  COUNSEL  AXD   C0MFQR1 

way  there  had  it  not  been  for  the  religious 
book  lent  by  a  neighbor ;  or  the  persuasive 
letter  penned  in  a  distant  land;  or  the 
awakening  sermon  listened  to  at  the  en- 
treaty  of  a  Christian  friend  ;  or  the  tract 
found  in  a  railway-station ;  or  the  short, 
sudden,  but  heaven-heard  and  heaven-an- 
swered prayer  \  or  the  timely-spoken  word 
by  the  way-side;  or  the  hymn  lovingly 
taught  to  the  little  child;  or  the  striking 
anecdote  treasured  up  and  repeated;  or  tlio 
pointed  verse  of  scripture  that  went  into  the 
heart,  sharpened  as  a  two-edged  sword. 

The  vei^  crumbs  of  work  that  fall  from 
the  Master's  hand  —  the  fragments  that 
remain  from  what  He  gives  His  strong  ones, 
the  "corners  of  time,"  snatched  from  tlio 
secular  work  of  every  da}r — ought  to 
he  treasured  by  the  Christian.  They  avIiosg 
time  IS  UlUCh  at  tin;  disposal  of  others,  or 
who  are  much  in  the  habit  of  travelling  from 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  29 

place  to  place,  and  therefore  peculiarly  fitted 
for  a  wayside  witnessing  for  Christ;,  need 
to  consider  deeply  the  importance  of  seizing- 
all  opportnnites  for  desultory  work.  How 
well  it  would  be,  if  each,  in  going  through 
the  world,  were  to  remember  what  the  old 
writer  said  of  life — that  it  consisted  of  two 
heaps,  a  large  one  of  sorrow,  and  a  small 
one  of  happiness,  and  whoever  carried  the 
very  smallest  atom  from  the  one  to  the 
other,  did  God  a  service ;  much  more  those 
who  are  instrumental,  in  any  wajr,  in  leading 
or  helping  one  precious  soul  from  the  pit, 
of  eternal  misery  to  the  home  of  eternal 


"WATTING  AND  WATCHING  FOR  ME." 

An  old  tradition  says  that  those  we  have 
served  on  earth  shall  be  the  first  to  welcome 
us  in  heaven. 


3°  COUNSEL  AXD   COMFORT 

When  mysterious  whispers  are  floating  around, 

And  voices  that  will  not  be  still, 
Shall  summon  us  hence  from  the  slippery  snore, 

To  the  waves  that  are  silent  and  still- 
When  I  look  with  changed  eyes  at  the  home  of  the 
blest, 

Far  out  of  tho  reach  of  the  sea, 
Will  any  one  stand  at  the  beautiful  gate, 

Waiting  and  watching  for  me  ? 

There  are  dear  ones  at  home  I  may  bless  with  my  love, 

There  are  wretched  ones  passing  the  street ; 
There  are  friendless  and  suffering  strangers  around, 

There  are  tempted  and  poor  I  must  meet  ; 
There  are  many  unthought  of,  whom  happy  and  blest* 

In  the  land  of  the  good  I  shall  see  ; 
Will  any  of  them,  at  the  beautiful  gate, 

Be  waiting  and  watching  for  me  ? 

There  are  old  and  forsaken,  who  linger  awhilo 

In  the  homes  which  their  dearest  have  left, 
And  an  action  of  love  or  a  few  gentle  words 

Might  cheer  tho  sad  spirit  bereft. 
But  the  Reaper  is  near  to  the  long-standing  com. 

The  weary  shall  sooa  bo  set  free  ; 
Will  any  of  these,  at  tho  beautiful  gate, 

Jjc  waiting  and  watching  for  mo  ? 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  3* 

There  are  little  ones  glancing  about  on  my  path, 

In  need  of  a  friend  and  a  guide  ; 
There  are  dim  little  eyes  looking  up  into  mine, 

Whose  tears  could  be  easily  dried  ; 
But  Jesus  may  beckon  the  children  away, 

In  the  midst  of  their  grief  or  their  glee  ; 
Will  any  of  these,  at  the  beautiful  gate, 

Ee  waiting  and  watching  for  me  ? 

I  may  be  brought  there  by  the  manifold  grace 

Of  the  Saviour,  who  loves  to  forgive  ; 
Though  I  bless  not  the  hungry  ones  near  to  my  side, 

Oiily  pray  for  myself  while  I  live. 
But  I  think  I  should  mourn  o'er  my  selfish  neglect— 

If  sorrow  in  heaven  can  be — 
If  no  one  should  stand  at  the  beautiful  gate, 

Waiting  and  watching  for  me. 


THE  COVERING  OF  CHARITY. 

St.  Peter  exhorts  his  brethren  to  culti- 
vate love — love  for  one  another.  This  love 
should  be  placed  before  all  other  virtues, 
and  should  be  so  fervent,  so  intense,  and 
so  comprehensive,  as  to  give  tone  and  char- 


32  COUNSEL   AND   COMFORT 

acter  to  the  whole  life.  Such  a  love,  he 
assures  us,  shall  cover  a  multitude  of  sins. 
Not  the  sins  of  the  individual  who  exer- 
cises it,  but  the  sins  of  others.  The  Apos- 
tle would  teach  us  that  the  spirit  of  true 
love,  a  Christian  love,  will  incline  us  to 
look  charitably  upon  the  conduct  of  those 
around  us.  It  will  hide  from  view,  throw  a 
mantle,  as  it  were,  over  the  faults  and  fail- 
ings of  others,  and  thus  cover  them  up. 
We  are  ready  enough,  perhaps,  to  look 
kindly  upon  those  who  stand  very  near  to 
us.  We  are  blind  to  their  defects ;  or,  if 
not  quite  so,  we  are  very  lenient,  and  are 
careful  not  to  speak  of  them  to  others. 
Now,  the  Spirit  of  Christ  bids  us  exercise 
the  same  thoughtful  kindness  toward  every- 
body ;  not  toward  our  family  and  friends 
alone,  but  toward  all  with  whom  we  have  to 
do.  We  ask  our  heavenly  Father  to  look 
pityingly  and  tenderly  upon  ourselves  and 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  33 

those  we  love,  for  we  know  we  could  not 
answer  for  one  of  a  thousand  of  our  of- 
fences. But  how  can  we  expect  He  will 
hear  us,  unless  we  are  willing  to  exercise 
the  same  spirit  toward  our  fellow-men  ?  If 
God  should  deal  with  us  as  we  deal  with 
each  other,  who  could  stand  ? 

Let  us  not  deceive  ourselves.  It  is  not 
by  discipline  or  self-control,  not  by  silence 
or  indifference,  that  we  are  to  attain  this 
end.  This  would  be  but  a  cold,  a  negative 
virtue.  The  Apostle  tells  us  there  must  be 
love — fervent,  heart-felt  love  ;  a  love  which 
inspires  the  deepest  and  liveliest  interest  in 
others.  Such  a  love,  lie  assures  us,  will 
cover  up  and  hide  from  our  view  the  frail- 
ties and  infirmities,  the  errors  and  the  sins 
of  those  around  us.  God  give  us  this 
spirit ! 

3 


34  COUNSEL  AND    COMFORT 

ANXIOUS  THOUGHT. 
"Take  no   thought   for  the   morrow  ;"   its   trials  01 
dangers  ; 
Why  burden  thy  spirit  with  deepening  gloom  ? 
Ah  !  to-day  hath  enough  to  distress  and  perplex  thee, 
It  needeth  no  shadow  of  dark  things  to  come. 

"Take  no  thought  for  the  morrow."     No  sorrow  shall 
touch  thee 
But  that  which  thy  God  in  His  love  hath  decreed  ; 
Go  to  Christ  with  thy  grief,  as  it  daily  ariseth, 
And  seek  for  His  strength  in  the  moment  of  need. 

"  Take  no  thought  for  the  morrow."     Its  dawning  may 
find  thee 
A  spirit  at  rest  'neath  the  altar  of  God  : 
With  the  last  battle  fought,  and  the  last  trial  ended— 
The  victory  won  through  Emmanuel's  blood. 


HOPE  FOR  ALL. 

Baxter  says,  "  The  good  arc  not  so  good 
as  I  once  thought,  nor  tho  bad  so  evil ;  and 
in  all  there  is  more  for  grace  to  make  ad- 
vantage of,  and  more  to  testify  for  God  and 
holiness,  than  I  once  believed." 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  3 5 

FOKGETTING  THE  PAST. 

It  is  wise  to  forget  past  errors.  There  is 
a  kind  of  temperament  which,  when  in- 
dulged, greatly  hinders  growth  in  real  god- 
liness. It  is  that  rueful,  repentant,  self-ac- 
cusing temper,  which  is  always  looking 
back,  and  microscopically  observing  how 
that  which  is  done  might  have  been  better 
done.  Something  of  this  we  ought  to  have. 
A  Christian  ought  to  feel  always  that  he 
has  partially  failed ;  but  that  ought  not  to 
be  the  only  feeling.  Faith  ought  ever  to 
be  a  sanguine,  cheerful  thing ;  and,  per- 
haps, in  practical  life,  we  could  not  give  a 
better  account  of  faith  than  by  saying  that 
it  is  amidst  much  failure,  having  the  heart 
to  try  again.  Oar  best  deeds  are  marked 
by  imperfection ;  but  if  they  really  were 
our  best, — "  forget  the  things  that  are  be- 
hind,"— we  shall  do  better  next  time. 

Under  this  head,  we  include  all  those 


o 


6  COUZSEL^AND   COMFORT 


mistakas  which  belong  to  our  circum- 
stances. We  can  all  look  back  to  past  life, 
and  see  mistakes  that  have  been  made — to 
a  certain  extent,  perhaps,  irreparable  ones. 
The  profession  chosen  for  you,  perhaps, 
was  not  the  fittest ;  or  you  are  out  of  place, 
and  many  things  might  have  been  better 
ordered..  Now,  on  this  apostolic  principle, 
it  is  wise  to  forget  all  that.  It  is  not  by  re- 
gretting what  is  irreparable,  that  true  work 
is  to  be  done,  but  by  making  the  best  of 
what  we  are.  It  is  not  by  complaining  that 
we  have  not  the  right  tools,  but  by  using 
well  the  tools  we  have.  What  we  are,  and 
whero  we  are,  is  God's  providential  ar- 
rangement— God's  doing,  though  it  may 
be  man's  misdoing ;  and  the  manly  and 
the  wise  way  is  to  look  your  disadvan- 
tages in  the  face,  and  see  what  can  be 
made  out  of  them.  Life,  like  war,  is  a 
scries  of  mistakes ;  and  he  is  not  the  best 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  37 

Christian,  or  the  best  general,  who  makes  the 
fewest  false  steps.  Poor  mediocrity  may 
secure  that ;  but  he  is  best  who  wins  the 
most  splendid  victories  by  the  retrieval  of 
mistakes.  Forget  mistakes ;  organize  vic- 
tory out  of  mistakes. 


HAItSH  JUDGMENTS. 
O  God  !  whose  thoughts  arc  brightest  lights, 

Whose  love  always  runs  clear, 
To  whose  kind  wisdom  sinning  souls 

Amidst  their  sins  are  dear  ! 

Sweeten  my  bitter-thoughted  heart 

With  charity  like  Thine, 
Till  self  shall  be  the  only  spot 

On  earth  which  does  not  shine. 

Time  was,  when  I  believed  that  wrong 

In  others  to  detect 
Was  part  of  genius,  and  a  gift 

To  cherish,  not  reject. 

Now,  better  taught  by  Thee,  0  Lord ! 
This  truth  dawns  on  my  mind — 


3 8  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

The  best  effect  of  heaven  y  light 
Is  earth's  false  eyes  to  blind. 

How  Thou  canst  think  so  well  of  us, 
Yet  be  the  God  Thou  art, 
.  Is  darkness  to  my  intellect, 
But  sunshine  to  my  heart. 

Yet  habits  linger  in  the  soul ! 

More  grace,  0  Lord  !  more  grace  ! 
More  sweetness  from  Thy  loving  heart ! 

More  sunshine  from  Thy  face. 


SUNDAY  A  DAY  OF  GLADNESS. 

God  docs  not  mean  us  always  to  be  som- 
bre, least  of  all  upon  Sunday,  the  glad  feast 
of  the  Resurrection,  a  day  whose  atmo- 
sphere throughout  should  be  one  of  quiet,  un- 
worldly jo3r.  Let  not  boisterous  merriment 
disturb  the  calm ;  let  hearty  worship,  and 
kindly  intercourse,  and  refreshing  rest — rest 
of  tired  mind  from  its  dragging  brood  of 
week-day  anxieties,  rest  of  tired  body  from 
the  round  of  week-day  toil — let  this  bo  the 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  39 

employment,  this  the  tone  of  the  hallowed 
day.  Religion,  not  in  every  word,  act,  look, 
obtruded  with  painful  effort,  but  present  in 
the  heart,  should  pervade  the  day,  its  rest, 
its  reading,  its  conversation.  Oh!  never 
represent  Sunday  —  at  any  rate,  to  the 
young  —  as  a  dull  and  gloomy  day ;  nor 
dream  that  a  heart  devoted  to  the  kind  God, 
need  abjure  all  that  is  genial  and  joyous,  or 
that  a  subdued,  spirit-broken  step  is  neces- 
sary to  the  child  who  has  chosen  to  walk 
beside  that  tender  Father,  holding  by  His 
hand. 


LOOKING  UNTO  JESUS. 

Sin  is  never  overcome  by  looking  at  it, 
but  by  looking  away  from  it  to  Him  who  bore 
our  sins,  yours  and  mine,  on  the  cross.  The 
heart  is  never  won  back  to  God  by  thinking 
we  ought  to  love  Him,  but  by  learning 
what  He  is — all  worthy  of  our  love. 


40  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

BffZ  SINS,  AND  MY  SAVIOUR! 

"My  sins  have  taken  such  hold  upon  me  that  I  am 
not  able  to  look  up  ;  yea,  they  are  more  in  number 
than  the  hairs  of  my  head,  and  my  heart  hath  failed 
me." 

My  sins,  my  sins,  my  Saviour  ! 
They  take  such  hold  on  me, 
I  am  not  able  to  look  up, 

Save  only,  Christ,  to  Thee  ; 
In  Thee  is  all  forgiveness, 

In  Thee  abundant  grace  ; 
My  shadow  and  my  sunshine, 
The  brightness  of  Thy  face. ' 

My  sins,  my  sins,  my  Saviour  ! 

How  sad  on  Thee  they  fall ; 
Seen  through  Thy  gentle  patience, 

I  tenfold  feel  them  all ; 
I  know  they  are  forgiven, 

But  still  their  pain  to  mo 
Is  all  the  grief  and  anguish, 

They  laid,  my  Lord,  on  Thee. 

My  sins,  my  sins,  my  Saviour  ! 
Their  guilt  I  never  knew 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  41 

Till  with  Thee  in  the  desert 

I  near  Thy  passion  drew  ; 
Till  with  Thee  in  the  garden 

I  heard  Thy  pleading  prayer, 
And  saw  the  sweat-drops  bloody 

That  told  Thy  sorrow  there. 

Therefore  my  songs,  my  Saviour, 

E'en  in  this  time  of  woe, 
Shall  tell  of  all  Thy  goodness 

To  suffering  man  below  ; 
Thy  goodness  and  Thy  favor, 

Whose  presence  from  above, 
Eejoice  those  hearts,  my  Saviour, 

That  live  in  Thee,  and  love. 


GKEATLY  AFFLICTED. 

I  have  felt  that  terrible  calamities  are 
great  blessings  to  the  spirit  of  a  man  who 
knows  how  to  suffer.  To  such  a  man  a 
great  affliction  from  God  is  like  a  great 
blast  in  a  quarry — it  throws  out  great  trea- 
sures, or  it  opens  a  way  for  great  projects. 
T  revere  a  man  who  is  in  great  affliction. 


42  COUNSEL  AXD   COMFORT 

God  seems  to  have  selected  him,  like  a 
piece  of  second-growth  timber,  for  an  im- 
portant work.  It  is  not  every  one  who  can 
bo  trusted  to  suffer  greatly. 


WHITEFIELD'S  PRAYER. 

"  If  not  in  public  usefulness,  yet  in  heart- 
holiness,  let  thy  servant  grow,  O  Lord!" 
So  prayed  this  devoted  servant  of  God  in  a 
time  of  sickness.  How  heavenly  a  place 
must  that  sick-room  have  been !  How 
useful  those  hours  of  weakness !  For  the 
believer's  usefulness  increases  in  proportion 
to  his  growth  in  holiness.  God's  light  is 
never  wasted.  If  the  light  is  in  your  heart, 
it  is  in  your  life.  It  must  shine.  Make 
the  most  then  of  this  season  of  retirement. 
It  is  your  preparation  for  future  usefulness. 
"  Take  comfort,  afflicted  Christian,"  writes 
an  eminent  divine  ;  "you  have  often  prayed 
to   be  made  of   some  service  in  the  world 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  43 

before  you  die,  and  now  the  answer  to  that 
prayer  has  come.  God  tries  you  because 
in  some  way  Ht>  is  about  to  use  you  ;  for 
your  history  will  furnish  no  exception  to 
the  rule,  that  when  God  is  about  to  make 
preeminent  use  of  a  man,  He  puts  him  in 
the  fire." 

To  this  end  let  it  be  your  aim  to  grow  in 
heart-holiness.  And  may  the  effects  of 
these  suffering  days  be,  "  that  Christ  shall 
dwell  in  your  heart  by  faith  ;  that,  being 
rooted  and  grounded  in  love,  you  may  be 
enabled  to  comprehend,  with  all  saints, 
what  is  the  breadth  and  length  and  depth 
and  height,  and  to  know  the  love  of  Christ, 
which  passe th  knowledge." 


PROMPTNESS    IN    DUTY. 

Never  judge  by  appearances  as  to  the 
relative  importance  of  duties.  What  seems 
the  least  important  ma}-  be  all-important. 


44  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

Had  the  widow  not  given  her  mite  the  day 
she  did  to  the  treasury,  but  delayed  it  a 
week,  how  much  would  she  herself,  and  the 
whole  Christian  Church,  have  lost  by  the 
delay ! 


THE  SUFFERER'S  COUCH. 

"  Those  members  of  the  body  which  seem  to  be  more 
feeble,  are  necessary." — 1  Cob.  xii.  22. 

"  My  work  is  done— I  lay  me  down  to  die  : 
Weary  and  travel-worn,  I  long  for  rest. 
Speak  but  the  word,  dear  Master,  and  I  fly, 
A  dove  let  loose,  to  nestle  on  Thy  breast." 
"  Not  yet,  my  child  ;  a  little  longer  wait, 
I  need  thy  prayerful  watch  at  glory's  gate." 

11  But,  Lord,  I  have  no  strength  to  watch  or  pray ; 
My  spirit  is  benumbed,  and  dim  my  sight  ; 
And  I  shall  grieve  Thy  wakeful  love,  as  they 
Who  in  the  garden  slept  that  Paschal  night." 
*•  My  child,  I  need  thy  weakness,  hour  by  hour, 
To  prove,  in  Me,  thj  is  power." 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  4-5 

'  Not  for  myself  alone  I  urge  the  suit ; 

But  loved  ones  lose  for  me  life's  printless  bloom  ; 
And  tender,  patient,  uncomplaining,  mute, 
Wear  out  their  joyance  in  my  darkened  room." 
'  Enough,  my  child  ;  I  need  their  love  to  thee  ; 
Around  thy  couch,  they  minister  to  Me." 

'  It  is  enough,  dear  Master — yea,  amen  ; 
I  will  not  breathe  one  murmur  of  reply  ; 
Only  fulfil  Thy  work  in  me,  and  then 
Call  me,  and  bid  me  answer,  '  Here  am  I !'  " 
"  My  child,  the  sign  I  waited  for  is  given  ; 
Thy  work  is  done  ;  I  need  thee  now  in  heaven." 


A   FORM    OP   UNBELIEF. 

The  humble  mau,  of  course,  invariably 
forms  a  very  modest  estimate  of  his  own 
place  and  power ;  and  the  more  graciously 
humble  he  is,  the  more  modest  will  his 
self-estimate  ever  be.  But  out  of  this  ex- 
cellent spirit  a  dangerous  temptation  may 
arise,  A  man  may  fancy  himself  to  be  so 
insignificant,  and  his  efforts  to  be  so  very 


4-6  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

worthless,  that  lie  and  his  influence  are  the 
smallest  of  trifles,  and  it  shall  matter  little 
whether  he  attempt  to  do  his  appointed 
work  or  not.  Take  heed,  my  reader,  of  this 
mock  humility.  Your  tempter  may  look 
like  the  brightest  of  the  angels  of  light,  but 
his  real  name  is  Unbelief,  not  Humility 
What  you  feel  in  regard  to  yourself  every 
Christian  may  equally  feel  in  regard  to  his 
work  ;  and  if  every  Christian  wera  to  neglect 
his  duties  because  he  feels  himself  incompe- 
tent to  discharge  them,  how  shall  Jacob 
ever  be  made  to  arise  ?  No,  no  ;  cherish 
those  modest  thoughts  of  yourself,  for  they 
are  all  true ;  but  dismiss  your  unworthy 
thoughts  of  Christ,  for  these  are  false.  His 
power  is  such  that,  even  with  you  He  can 
accomplish  anything.  There  is  no  duty  to 
which  you  are  really  called,  that  you  are 
not  quite  .able  to  discharge,  with  Christ 
strengthening  you.     Whatever  you  may  be, 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  4/ 

God  is  "  able  to  make  all  grace  abound 
toward  you,  that  ye,  always  having  all 
sufficiency  in  all  things,  may  abound  to 
every  good  work."  Your  sense  of  impotence 
is  rightly  used  when  it  sends  you,  in  humble 
faith,  to  Christ  for  help  ;  but  you  abuse  it 
if  you  are  led  by  it  to  bury  your  talents  in 
the  earth,  and  thereby  to  earn  the  slothful 
servant's  doom.  Throughout  the  whole 
economy  of  grace — in  the  service  of  the 
Christian  as  well  as  in  the  frank  forgive- 
ness of  the  sinner — grace  is  reigning ;  and 
God  delights  to  employ  the  self-emptied 
little  ones  for  the  doing  of  His  greatest 
works. 


THE  HEART   OF  UNBELIEF. 
"  Help  Thou  mine  unbelief." — Maek  six.  24. 
'Tis  not  the  cross  I  have  to  bear, 
'Tis  not  the  cup  of  pain  and  care,  ' 
Which  constitute  my  bitter  grief ; 
It  is  the  heart  of  unbelief ! 


4§  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

The  cross  would  be  but  light  without 
The  boding  fear — the  anxious  doubt  ; 
And  honey  drops  my  cup  would  fill, 
But  for  this  rebel,  restless  will. 

'Twas  unbelief  which  sowed  the  thorn 
By  which  these  weary  feet  were  torn  : 
'Tis  unbelief  and  fear  which  hide 
The  pleasant  brooks  on  either  side. 

'Tis  faith  which  hails  the  fountain's  flow 
And  sees  the  desert  lily  blow, 
And  listens  patiently  to  hear 
The  blessed  Master  drawing  near. 

Dear  Lord  !  from  whom  our  hearts  receive 
The  grace  to  hear  Thee  and  bolieve, 
Take  from  my  cross  its  only  grief, 
And  help,  oh  !  help  mine  unbelief ! 


WORK    FOR    ALL. 

God  never  put  one  man  or  woman  into 
the  world,  without  giving  each  something 
to  do  in  it  or  for  it — somo  visible,  tangible 
work,  to  be  left  behind  them  when  they  die. 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  49 

AS    WE    HAVE    OPPOKTUMTY. 

''As  we  Lave  therefore  opportunity,  let 
us  do  good  unto  all  men."  Iu  doing  good, 
our  obligations  are  limited  only  by  our 
opportunities.  We  make  our  mistakes  in 
not  recognizing  them.  One  man  always 
lias  the  opportunity  ;  another  never  seems 
to  find  it.  And  this  makes  the  broad  dis- 
tinction between  useful  and  useless  persons. 
Two  persons  in  the  same  neighborhood,  and 
in  similar  circumstances,  travel  wide  apart 
as  they  go  on  in  life,  because  one  improves 
his  opportunities,  the  other  does  not.  Had 
we  the  spirit  of  our  Master,  we  should  find 
life  full  of  occasions  for  blessing  others. 
There  are  always  opportunities  where  there 
are  willing  hearts.  The  love  that  seeketh 
not  her  own,  is  quick  to  see  the  needs  and 
sorrows  of  others.  It  is  not  want  of  work, 
but  want  of  love  that  holds  us  back.  It 
has  been  wrell  said  that  "  there  is  plenty  of 


5o  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

work  wherever  there  are  sin  and  sorrow, 
and  there  are  sin  and  sorrow  everywhere." 
In  little  things,  we  may  do  much  every  day* 
A  simple  expression  of  interest  in  the  things 
of  another;  a  readiness  to  enter  heartily 
into  the  daily  trials  and  perplexities,  joys 
and  sorrows  of  those  around  us,  how  much 
will  this  spirit  add  to  the  comfort  and  hap- 
piness of  a  household  !  Again,  a  cheerful, 
contented  spirit  carries  sunshine  everywhere. 
How  it  brightens  every-day  life,  and 
blesses  all  within  its  reach  !  It  does  good 
"  unto  all  men."  Surely  we  have  opportu- 
nity at  all  times,  in  all  places.  Let  us  see 
to  it  then  that  wo  have  the  willing  mind — 
the  mind  that  was  in  Christ  Jesus. 


EVIL    SPEAKING. 

"  SPEAK  evil  of  no  man,"  says  the  great 
apostle;   as   plain   a   command   as  "Thou 


BOB,  DAILY  LIFE.  0  I 

shalt    do    no    murder."      But    who,    even 

among  Christians,  regard  this  command  ? 

What  is  evil-speaking?  It  is  not  the 
same  as  lying  or  slandering.  All  a  man 
says  may  be  as  true  as  the  Bible,  and  yet 
the  saying  of  it  be  evil-speaking.  For 
evil-spealdng  is  neither  more  nor  less  than 
speaking  evil  of  an  absent  person  ;  relating 
something  evil  which  was  really  done  or 
said  by  one  that  is  not  present  when  it  is 
related. 


A  PILLOW  PKAYEE. 

The  day  is  ended.     Ere  I  sink  to  sleep, 

My  weary  spirit  seeks  repose  in  Thine  ; 
Father  !  forgive  my  trespasses,  and  keep 
This  little  life  of  mine. 

With  loving-kindness  curtain  Thou  my  bed, 
And  cool  in  rest  my  burning  pilgrim  feet  : 
Thy  pardon  be  the  pillow  for  my  head — 
So  shaH  my  sleep  be  sweet. 


2  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

At  peace  with  all  tlio  world,  dear  Lord,  and  Thee  ; 
No  fears  my  soul's  unwavering  faith  can  shake  ; 
All's  well !  whichever  side  the  grave  for  me 
The  morning  light  may  break  ! 


COMING  BACK  TO  CHRIST. 

I  feel,  when  I  have  sinned,  an  immediate 
reluctance  to  go  to  Christ — I  am  ashamed 
to  go.  I  feel  as  if  it  would  do  no  good  to 
go — as  if  it  were  making  Christ  a  minister 
of  sin,  to  go  straight  from  the  swine,  through 
to  the  best  robe — and  a  thousand  other 
excuses ;  but  I  am  persuaded  that  they  are 
all  lies,  direct  from  hell.  John  argues  the 
opposite  way.  "If  any  man  sin  wo  have 
an  Advocate  with  the  Father,"  and  a  thou- 
sand other  Scriptures  are  against  it.  I  am 
sure  there  is  neither  peace,  nor  safety  from 
ir  sin  but  in  going  directly  to  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  This  is  God's  way  of  pcaco 
and  holiness.     It  is  folly  to  the  world   and 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  5$ 

the  beclouded  heart,  but  it  is  the  way.  I 
must  never  think  sin  too  small  to  need 
immediate  application  to  the  blood  of 
Christ.  If  I  put  away  a  good  conscience 
concerning  faith,  I  make  shipwreck.  I 
must  think  my  sins  too  great,  too  aggra- 
vated, too  presumptuous — as  when  done  on 
my  knees,  or  in  preaching,  or  by  a  dying 
bed,  or  during  dangerous  illness — to  hinder 
me  from  fleeing  to.  Christ.  The  weight  of 
my  sins  should  act  like  the  weight  of  a 
clock — the  heavier  it  is,  it  makes  it  go 
the  faster. 


A  PEECIOUS  PEOMISE. 

"How  much  more  shall  your  Heavenly  Father  give 
the  Holy  Spirit  to  them  that  ask  Him." 

The  Saviour  had  been  teaching  His  dis- 
ciples how  to  pray,  and  had  illustrated  the 
willingness  of  our  Heavenly  Father  to  give 
every  needed  blessing  to  those  who  asked 


54  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

Him,  b}T  a  comparison  with  an  earthly 
parent's  readiness  to  respond  to  all  his 
children's  wants,  and  then  with  an  outburst 
of  tender  love  and  compassion  He  speaks 
the  words  Ave  have  quoted. 

This  has  always  been  to  ns  a  most  pre- 
cious and  comforting  text,  and  sustained  us 
in  many  a  conflict,  and  lighted  many  a  dark 
way  along  our  pilgrimage. 

In  the  midst  of  powerful  temptations, 
when  the  struggle  seems  to  be  going  against 
you,  or  when  you  arc  conscious  that  the 
world  is  gaining  the  mastery  over  you,  or 
more  than  either,  when  some  secret  sin  has 
been  indulged,  until  it  has  separated 
between  you  and  your  God,  and  you  know 
not  how  to  break  its  spell,  and  yet  know  that 
it  must  be  crushed;  then  plead  this  promise 
of  God,  and  on  this  ground.  You  do  not  in 
this  prayer  ask  for  long  life,  or  health,  or 
prosperity,  or  even  for  happini  I  I'thl  v, 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  55 

selfish  motive  mingles  with  it,  but  the 
sincere,  often  tearful,  and  sometimes  heart- 
broken cry  for  deliverance  from  sin,  its 
power  and  its  consequences.  It  is  an  earnest 
appeal  of  a  child  that  has  wandered  but  still 
loves,  of  a  heart  that  longs  for  deliverance 
and  purity  and  peace  ;  and  when  you  take 
this  promise,  which  will  never  seem  so  great 
and  precious  to  you  as  when  your  soul  is  very 
Aveary  of  its  sins,  and  plead  it  before  your 
Father's  throne  as  one  pleads  for  his  life, 
the  Holy  Spirit  shall  give  you  the  victory 
over  your  sin,  whatever  may  be  its  power, 
and  the  sweet  peace  of  forgiveness  shall  fill 
your  heart. 

"  I  will  heal  their  backsliding  ;  I  will  love 
them  freely,  for  mine  anger  is  turned  away." 


CHRIST-LIKE. 

Never  address  the  vilest  outcast  as  you 
would  not  speak  to  your  dearest  friend. 


56  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

COMPLETE  LN  HIM. 

Full  of  failings,  now  my  soul 
Seeketh  in  the  darkness  light ; 

Jesus  !  hear  Thou,  show  Thy  face. 
Put  the  shadows  all  to  flight ; 

I  entreat  Thee  let  me  see  Thee, 
Hide  no  longer  in  the  night ! 

1  perceive  it ;  my  rebellion 
Is  the  cause  of  all  my  grief ; 

I  confess  it,  and  beseech  Thee 
For  forgiveness  and  relief ; 

Thou  canst  give  me,  0  my  Jesus, 
Help,  and  grace,  and  new  belief. 

In  the  future  let  me  serve  Thee 
"Wisely  in  Thy  chosen  way  ; 

Ever  truer,  puror,  brighter, 
Growing  like  Thee  every  day  ; 

Men  shall  see  that  all  my  power 
Comes  from  Thee,  whom  I  obey. 

Teach  me,  lead  me,  and  prepare  me  ; 

As  Thou  wilt,  ray  soul  refine  ; 
Let  Thy  love  fill  my  desire, 

And  through  all  my  life-work  shine 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  5/ 

O  what  blessing,  0  what  glory, 
Thus  to  cry,  Thou  mine,  I  thine  ! 

Jesus,  keep  me,  till  Thy  presenoe 

Shineth  out  before  my  eyes, 
"Where  Thy  children  weep  no  longer, 

Where  are  heard  no  bitter  sighs. 
Step  by  step  I'll  mount  the  ladder 

On  which  men  to  Thee  may  rise. 


LIFE  IN  CHRIST. 

I  know  not  what  should  more  cheer  and 
gladden  a  Christian  than  to  see  his  spiritual 
life  losing  everything  of  an  exotic  character  ; 
to  have  it  set  in  the  open  air,  welcoming 
the  wind  from  every  quarter;  acquiescing 
in  all  things  because  depending  only  upon 
one.  A  free  and  sustained  spirit  becomes 
natural  to  him  who  in  the  breaking  of  his 
daily  bread,  has  found  that  Real  Presence 
which  sanctifies  and  glorifies  our  life's  poor 
Elements.  When  the  heart  has  found  its 
true  gravitation,  it  leaves  that  Rest  slowly 


58 


COUXSKL   A\l)    COMFORT 


and  returns  to  it  quickly ;  disturbing  in- 
fluences will  be  felt  from  time  to  time,  but 
their  power  is  gone.  "  That  ivldch  is  the 
strongest  must  win" 

A  firm,  assured  patience  grows  upon  the 
Christian,  enabling  him  to  hold  upon  his 
way  undeterred,  unchilled  by  whatever  lie 
may  meet  upon  it ;  enabling  him  also,  I 
know  not  to  what  inner  music,  to  build  up 
his  spirit  to  a  strength  of  calm,  reliant  con- 
viction, even  with  the  stones  he  finds  there, 
as  a  brook  lifts  up  a  more  clear  and  rapid 
voice,  for  flowing  over  pebbles.  The  strain 
upon  the  inner  life  lias  passed  over  from 
self  to  Christ.  The  heart  has  grown  wiser, 
instructed,  tolerant,  tender  with  weakness, 
patient  of  imperfection. 

How  quiet  such  a  life  is!  how  fruitful! 
.Fruitful  because  it  is  so  quiet ;  it  works  not, 
but  lives  and  grows.  The  uneasy  effort  has 
passed  out  of  it  ;  unresting  b  ■<'  mse  it  reds  al- 


FOa  daily  life.  59 

way,  it  lias  done  with  task-work  and  anxiety ; 
it  serves,  yet  it  is  liot  cumbered  with  much 
serving ;  it  has  ceased  from  that  sad  com- 
plaint, '*  Thou  hast  left  me  to  serve  alone." 
Such  a  life  will  seem  less  spiritual  only 
because  it  has  grown  more  natural ;  the 
spal  moves  in  an  atmosphere  which  of  itself 
brings  it  into  contact  with  all  great  and  en- 
during things,  and  it  has  only  to  draw  in  its 
breath  to  be  filled  and  satisfied.  I  know  not 
how  to  describe  the  grandeur  and  simplicity 
of  the  state  that  is  no  longer  self-bounded, 
self-referring ;  how  great  a  thing  to  such  a 
freed  and  rejoicing  spirit,  the  life  in  Christ 
Jesus  seems ;  a  temple  truly  "  not  of  this 
building,"  too  great  to  be  perfect  here  ;  a 
thought  for  w'hich  our  mortal  life — a  lan- 
guage as  yet  too  broken  and  confused  to 
"  catch  up  the  whole  of  love  and  utter  it " — 
can  find  no  corresponding  word. 


60  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

SING  AWAY  YOUB  GRIEF. 

We  can  sing  away  cares  easier  than  we 
can  reason  them  away. 

Oh,  that  we  conlcl  put  songs  under  our 
burdens!  Oh,  that  we  could  extract  the 
sense  of  sorrow  by  song !  Then  these  things 
would  not  poison  so  much.  Sing  in  the 
house.  Teach  your  children  to  sing.  When 
troubles  come,  go  at  them  with  songs. 
When  griefs  arise,  sing  them  down.  Lift 
the  voice  of  praise  against  cares.  Praise 
God  by  singing ;  that  will  lift  you  above 
trials  of  every  sort.  Attempt  it.  They 
sing  in  heaven ;  and  among  God's  people 
upon  earth,  song  is  the  appropriate  language 
of  Christian  feeling. 


THE    TRUE    STANDARD. 

THOSE  that  arc  bound  for  heaven  must 
be  willing  to  swim  againsi  the  stream,  and 
must  not  do  as  m  8t  do,  but  as  tho  best  do. 


FOE  DAILY  LIFE. 

ALL  LN  THEE. 
Weakness  and  trouble,  solitude  and  sorrow, 

In  combination !  can  I  cheerful  be  ? 
And  wherefore  not,  since  I  can  voices  borrow, 
Society  and  light  and  peace  from  Thee, 
My  God,  from  Thee  ? 

I  will  not  waste  one  breath  of  life  in  sighing  ; 

For  other  ends  has  life  been  given  to  me  ; 
Duties  and  self-devotion— daily  dying 

Into  a  higher,  better  life  with  Thee, 
Dear  Lord,  with  Thee  ! 

Strong  in  Thy  strength,  though  in  myself  but  w< 
ness, 
Equal  to  all,  I  know  that  I  shall  be, 
l£  I  can  seize  the  mantle  of  Thy  meekness 
And  wrap  it  round  ray  soul,  like  Thee, 
Blest  Lord,  like  Thee  ! 


61 


JESUS  THE    HOME  OF   THE  SOLITARY. 

"  My  mother,  and  sister,  and  brother  " — not 
a  word  ever  fell  from  His  lips  which  was  not 
laden  with  meaniDg.  What,  then,  can  these 
words  mean,  but  that  there  is  not  a  relation- 


62  COUNSEL  ASD   COMFORT 

ship  on  earth  the  tenderness  of  which  His 
love  does  not  contain  and  exceed,  and  the 
want  of  which,  He,  in  His  own  person,  cannot 
freely  supply? 

There  is  not  a  vacant  place  in  the  heart 
or  the  home  He  cannot  fill,  nor  an  energy  of 
the  renewed  affections  which  may  not  find 
its  full  exercise  through  Him.  Personally, 
Jesus  can  be,  and  designs  to  be  this  to  those 
who  believe  in  Him.  In  the  abundance  of 
natural  ties,  in  the  fullest  home,  and  the  life 
richest  in  natural  influence  and  necessary 
activity,  the  heart  of  the  Christian  can  find 
rest  in  none  but  Christ ;  and  in  the  most 
solitary  life,  in  the  emptiest  home,  though  it 
be  but  the  one  hired  room,  where  domestic 
plans  and  labors  lose  all  their  poetry  and 
sweetness  by  becoming  merely  the  necessary 
providing  for  self,  those  meals  which  in  the 
family  are  such  happy  gatherings  and  fo- 
cuses of  family  history,  sinking  into  nothing 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  63 

more  than  the  sustenance  of  the  body,  the 
love  and  the  presence  of  Jesus  can  entirely 
satisfy  the  heart,  and  make  it  not  only  always 
content,  but  often  in  a  glow  of  thankfulness, 
turning  the  solitary  meal  into  a  feast  of 
gladness,  and  hallowing  the  solitary  room 
with  high  and  sweet  associations.  I  believe 
not  only  that  this  is  possible,  but  that  it  has 
been,  and  at  this  moment  is,  the  case  in 
many  a  home  known  but  to  God  and  the 
anaels  who  minister  there. 


UNCONSCIOUS  INFLUENCE. 

Not  more  constantly  is  the  sun  pouring 
forth  its  beams,  or  a  flower  exhaling  its  fra- 
grance, than  the  Christian  is  radiating  or 
exhaling  influence  from  his  character  upon 
those  around  him.  "Wherever  he  is,  what- 
ever lie  does,-  this  influence  never  ceases. 
It  underlies  all  his  actions  ;  it  runs  side  by 
side  with  his  words ;  it  goes  on  when  action 


64  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

ceases  and  words  fail.  "What  a  man  volun- 
tarily chooses,  says,  or  does,  is  only  occa- 
sional. He  does  not  always  think  or  always 
act.  From  pure  fatigue  he  must,  perforce, 
be  silent  and  inactive  at  times.  But  what 
he  is — that  is  necessarily  perpetual  and  co- 
extensive with  his  being. 

I  cannot  always  speak  a  word  for  Christ, 
but  I  can  always  live  for  Him.  I  cannot  al- 
ways do  good  actively.  I  may  not  have  the 
opportunity,  though  I  have  the  inclination  ; 
but  I  can  alwa}-s  he  good,  passively.  The 
voluntary  language  of  what  I  say  or  do,  is 
spasmodic,  and  liable  to  continual  interrup- 
tion ;  but  the  language  of  my  character,  of 
what  I  really  am,  is  as  continuous  as  my 
life  itself,  and  suffers  no  moro  interruption 
than  the  beating  of  my  heart  or  the  breath- 
i  Qg  i  >f  my  lungs.  I  can  choose  to  do  good  or 
evil,  to  say  a  kind  or  bitter  word  ;  but  I  can- 
not choose  to  exert  or  repr<  ss  the  influence 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE. 


65 


of  my  character,  for  it  acts  in  spite  of  me — 
it  produces  its  own  proper  impression, 
whether  I  think  of  it  or  not.  I  cannot  live 
at  all  without  radiating  this  influence. 
"  Simply  to  be  in  this  world  is  to  exert  an 
influence  compared  with  which  mere  words 
and  acts  are  feeble."  Just  as  the  leaven,  by 
its  mere  presence,  changes  the  particles  of 
meal  in  the  midst  of  which  it  is  hid,  so 
does  each  human  being,  by  his  mere  pre- 
sence, affect  for  good,  or  evil  those  with 
whom  he  associates. 


A  GIFT. 

God's  salvation  is  not  a  purchase  to  be 
made,  nor  wages  to  be  earned,  nor  a  sum- 
mit to  be  climbed,  nor  a  height  to  be 
attained,  but  simply  and  solely  a  gift  to  bo 
received.  And  nothing  but  faith  can  re- 
ceive anything  from  God. 


66  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

THE   SECRET  SPRING. 

"He  shall  be  as  a  tree  planted  by  the  waters,  and 
that  spreadeth  out  her  roots  by  the  river,  and  shall  not 
see  when  heat  conieth,  but  her  leaf  shall  be  green/' — 
Jek.  xvii.  7,  8. 

The  gentle  moon  was  silvering 

The  outline  of  the  trees, 
The  lullaby  of  Nature 

Was  whispered  in  the  breeze. 
'Twas  not  a  time  for  talking, 

Or  speculations  high  : 
I  wanted  to  be  quiet, 

And  hear  that  lullaby 

I  wanted  to  be  silent, 

And  watch  the  waving  grass, 
So  gracefully  inclining 

To  let  the  breezes  pass. 
It  seemed  to  grow  in  beauty 

The  more  it  bowed  its  head, 
Like  penitential  murmurs 

On  saintly  dying  bed. 

I  marvelled  at  its  beauty, 

So  manifold,  so  sweet, 
Like  rainbow  colors  blending 

In  harmony  oorapL 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  6 7 

And  while  I  looked,  and  wondered 

What  made  it  grow  so  high, 
The  question  rose  within  me, 

Is  there  a  hid  supply  ? 

For  it  was  taller,  fairer 

Than  all  the  grass  around  ; 
What  made  it  thus  to  differ 

From  cumberers  of  the  ground  ? 
At  last,  the  whispering  breezes 

This  answer  seemed  to  bring 
(Its  echoes  rang  within  me), 
"There  is  a  Secret  Speeng  ! 

"You  cannot  see  the  waters 

By  which  the  grass  is  fed  ; 
You  cannot  see  the  brooklet, 

Within  its  little  bed  ; 
You  cannot  even  hear  it, 

So  quiet  is  its  flow ; 
And  yet  those  hidden  waters 

Have  made  the  grass  to  grow  !" 

Then,  "planted  by  the  waters," 

O  Saviour,  let  me  be, 
That  I  may  thus  be  fruitful, 

And  glory  bring  to  Thee  ! 


6cS  COUNSEL  AND   C031F0ET 

Not  unto  me  be  glory  ! 

Thy  praises  would  I  sing  : 
Yes,  for  the  grass  were  nothing 

Without  the  Secret  Spring  ! 


THE  GOVERNMENT  OF  CHRIST. 

Did  tins  verse,  "  The  government  shall  be 
upon  Ills  shoulder,"  ever  speak  peace  to 
you  concerning  these  tilings  ?  Not  merely 
the  government  of  the  universe,  or  of  this 
world,  or  of  the  Church,  but  His  govern- 
ment of  you.  No  part  of  your  life  is  a  mis- 
take or  an  accident,  but  every  part  of  it  is 
sent  you  straight  from  the  Lord  Each  clay 
comes  to  3-011  from  Him  ;  each  circumstance, 
each  event,  each  person  you  meet,  each  con- 
versation you  hold,  each  book  that  comes  in 
your  way,  is  ordered  of  Hiin.  Every  atom 
of  your  life  comes  to  you  from  Him.  The 
government  of  yourself  is  His  daily  order- 
ing ;     it   is   your   part   to   submit   to   that 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  69 

government;  rather,  to  accept  it,  to  go  to 
Him  morning  by  morning  for  orders  for  this 
one  day.  You  know  He  will  send  you  each 
circumstance,  so  ask  Him  to  take  it  back  into 
His  hands  again.  Give  Him  yourself,  but 
give  Him  also  all  the  events  of  the  day, 
confiding  to  His  care  those  you  know  of, 
and  begging  Him  to  guard  those  you  know 
not.  Leave  off  governing  yourself,  and  let 
Jesus  do  it. 

Perhaps  you  say,  "I  don't  know  how  to 
do  this.  A  difficulty,  a  temptation  comes, 
and  before  I  have  time  to  think,  I  am  over- 
come." Perhaps  it  is  a  temptation  that  you 
know  beforehand,  will  meet  yon.  Then  take 
it  to  Jesus,  tell  Him  about  it — all  about  it — 
and  tell  Him  how  it  has  overcome  you,  how 
quickly — how  at  the  time  you  have  been 
almost  glad  to  yield,  though  it  has  been  a 
grief  afterward.  Tell  Him  all  about  it,  and 
that  it  is  coming  again,  and  then  leave  it 


/O  COUNSEL  AXD   COMFORT 

with  Him.  Trust  it  mid  yourself  to  Him  ; 
do  not  worry,  or  fret,  or  fear.  You  have 
tried  often  to  govern  it  yourself  and  have 
failed  ;  do  not  try  any  more  ;  let  Jesus  do  it 
for  you.  Do  you  sny  :  "  I  cannot.  How 
can  I  expect  Jesus  to  help  me  if  I  don't  help 
myself?"  What  has  all  your  helping  your- 
self done  for  you  ?  Nothing,  but  this  one 
thing  :  it  has  shoini  you  that  all  your  efforts 
are  vain.  Now  begin  and  trust  to  Jesus  to 
do  it  for  you.  When  the  centurion  whose 
servant  was  ill,  came  to  Jesus,  he  simply 
stated  his  case.  "  My  servant  lieth  at  home 
sick  of  the  palsy,  grievously  tormented." 
And  Jesus  said  :  "  I  will  come  and  heal 
him."  If  the  soldier  had  brought  Jesus  to 
his  house,  and  then  begun  to  try  his  own 
remedies,  Jesus  would  have  stood  asido  to 
let  him  prove  how  futile  all  his  efforts  were. 
Is  Be  standing  aside  while  you  arc  bus\  Ing 
yourself,    hard   at  work,   to  euro  your  dis- 


FOR  DAILY  LJFR  7  l 

cases?  Dear  soul,  you  are  not  the  doctor  ; 
you  are  the  patient.  "What  a  mistake  you 
have  been  making  all  this  time.  Pat  it  to 
rights  quickly  ;  give  yourself  entirely  into 
the  hands  of  Jesus — into  His  heart,  I  should 
rather  say — and  He  will  take  you  along 
with  Himself,  and  cure  you  as  you  go,  do- 
ing all/or  you. 


WHAT  JESUS  SAYS   TO  ME. 

Fear  not :  for  I  have  redeemed  thee ;  I 
have  called  thee  by  thy  name  ;  thou  art 
Mine.  I,  even  I,  am  He  that  blotteth  out  thy 
transgressions,  for  mine  own  sake,  and  wdll 
not  remember  thy  sins.  Thou  hast  de- 
stroyed thyself,  but  in  Me  is  thine  help. 
Give  Me  thine  heart ;  in  vain  shalt  thou 
make  thyself  fair;  fioni  Me  is  thy  fruit 
found.  I  will  sprinkle  clean  water  upon 
you,  and  you  shall  be  clean  ;  from  all  }Tour 
filthiness  and   from   all  your   idols,  will   I 


7-  COUNSEL  AXD   COMFORT 

cleanse  you.  A  new  heart  also  will  I  give 
you,  and  a  new  spirit  will  I  put  within  you ; 
and  I  will  take  away  the  stony  heart  out 
of  your  flesh,  and  I  will  give  you  an  heart 
of  flesh,  and  I  will  put  My  spirit  within  you. 
and  cause  you  to  walk  in  My  statutes,  and 
you  shall  keep  my  judgments  and  do  them. 
I  will  give  }-ou  rest ;  My  peace  I  give  unto 
you.  I  also  will  keep  thee  from  the  hour  of 
temptation.  I  will  instruct  thee  and  teach 
thee  in  the  way  which  thou  shalt  go  ;  I  will 
guide  thee  with  Mine  eye.  I  am  with  thee, 
and  will  keep  thee  in  all  places  whither  thou 
goest.  I  will  never  leave  thee  nor  forsake 
thee.  My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee.  If 
thou  art  not  able  to  do  that  thing  which  is 
least,  why  take  you  thought  for  the  rest? 
My  strength  is  made  perfect  in  weakness. 

What  wilt  thou  that  I  should  do  unto 
thee  ?  Thou  art  careful  and  troubled  about 
many   tilings.     Be   careful  for  nolliin'i,   but 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  73 

come  unto  Me ;  I  will  help  thee.  Be  not 
afraid  ;  only  believe.  In  quietness  and  con- 
fidence shall  be  your  strength. 

I  have  loved  thee  with  an  everlasting  love, 
therefore  with  loving-kindness  have  I  drawn 
thee.  I  know  thee  by  name,  and  thou  hast 
found  grace  in  My  sight.  Now,  therefore, 
if  you  will  obey  My  voice  indeed,  and  keep 
My  covenant,  you  shall  be  a  peculiar  trea- 
sure unto  Me.  Behold  thou  art  fair,  My 
love,  behold  thou  art  fair ;  perfect  through 
Aly  comeliness  put  upon  thee.  Thou  art  all 
fair,  My  love ;  there  is  no  spot  in  thee.  I 
have  blotted  out  as  a  thick  cloud  thy  trans- 
gressions, and  as  a  cloud  thy  sins.  "Why 
are  you  troubled,  and  why  do  thoughts  arise 
in  your  heart  ?  What  will  you  that  I  shall 
do  unto  you?  If  you  shall  ask  anything  in 
My  name,  I  will  do  it.  Ask  what  }rou  will, 
and  it  shall  be  done.  Let  not  your  heart 
be  troubled,  neither  let  it  be  afraid.     Come 


74  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

near  unto  Me.  As  one  whom  his  mother 
comforteth,  so  will  I  comfort  you.  Be  of 
good  cheer.  These  things  have  I  spoken 
unto  }tou  that  My  joy  might  remain  in  }tou, 
and  that  your  joy  might  be  fall. 


MOKE  LIGHT  NEEDED. 

When  you  are  reading  a  book  in  a  dark 
room,  and  come  to  a  difficult  part,  you  take 
it  to  a  window  to  get  more  light.  So  take 
your  Bibles  to  Christ. 


A  GOOD  RULE  FOR  TRAVELLERS. 

It  is  a  good  and  safe  rule  to  sojourn  in 
every  place  as  if  you  meant  to  spend  your 
life  there,  never  omitting  an  opportunity  of 
doing  a  kindness,  or  speaking  a  true  word, 
or  making  a  friend.  Seeds  thus  sown  by 
the  wayside- often  bring  forth  an  abundant 
harvest.  Von  might  so  spend  your  summer 
among  q  people  that  they  and  their  descend- 


FOR  DAILY  LTFjZ  7 5 

ants  should  be  better  and  happier,  through 
time  and  eternity,  for  your  works  and  your 
example. 


NO    CHOICE. 

A  Christian  lady,  long  confined  to  her 
bed  by  intense  physical  suffering,  was 
asked  what  would  be  her  desire  could  she 
know  she  might  be  fully  restored  to  health  ? 
She  replied,  a  sweet  smile  lighting  up  her 
countenance,  "As  the  Lord  will."  "But  if 
you  are  not  to  be  restored?"  suggested  a 
friend.  "  Why,  then  it  shall  be  as  the  Lord 
will,"  was  her  ready  response.  "But  if 
you  knew  it  to  be  His  will,  what  wrould  be 
your  choice  ?  "  urged  her  friend.  Closing 
her  eyes,  apparently  committing  all  her  inte- 
rests to  the  dear  keeping  of  infinite  Love, 
she  replied,  "  Well  then,  truly,  I  should  refer 
it  to  God* 


76  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

MY  SHEPHERD. 

"He  leadetli  me  !" 
And  so  I  need  not  seek  my  own  wild  way 

Across  the  desert  wild  ; 
He  knoweth  where  the  soft  green  pastm-os  lie, 

Where  the  still  waters  glide, 
And  how  to  reach  the  coolness  of  their  rest, 

Beneath  the  calm  hill-side. 

"He  leadeth  me  !" 
And  though  it  be  by  rugged,  weary  ways, 

Where  thorns  spring  sharp  and  sore, 
No  pathway  can  seem  strange  or  desolate 

Where  Jesus  "goes  before  ;" 
His  gentle  shepherding  my  solace  is, 

And  gladness,  yet  in  store. 

"He  leadeth  me !" 
I  shall  not  take  one  noedless  step  through  all, 

In  wind,  or  heat,  or  cold  ; 
And  all  day  long,  He  sees  the  peaceful  end, 

Through  trials  manifold  ; 
Up  the  fair  hill-side,  like  some  sweet  surprise, 

Wftiteth  the  quiet  fuld. 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  77 

QUIETNESS  IN  SERVING. 

No  one  can  do  more  than  He  can,  and  the 
narrowest  life  is  wider  than  mosfc  of  our 
hearts.  When  people  have  a  great  many 
ways  of  doing  good,  they  sometimes  get  so 
confused  that  they  do  nothing. 


WORLDLY    CONFORMITY. 

Touching  this  subject,  Adelaide  Newton 
writes  as  follows  to  a  schoolfellow : 

"  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  if  you  are 
much  occupied  with  thoughts  of  heaven,  of 
holiness,  of  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus,  and 
how  He  lived  and  walked  on  earth,  }'ou  will 
feel  a  secret  shrinking  from  worldly  society, 
which  will  make  balls  and  such  amusements 
very  painful  to  3^011.  God  has  left  no  positive 
commands  upon  things  of  this  sort ;  for  He 
knows  that  where  the  heart  is  given  to  Him, 
the  life  will  assuredly  be  given  too.  And 
the  motive-of  gospel-obedience  is,  not   so 


7 3  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

much  duty,  as  love.  The  child  that  loves 
its  parents  devoted!}7,  or  its  friends,  does 
what  will  please  them  at  any  cost.  I  hope," 
she  adds,  "  you  will  not  think  me  severe  upon 
you  in  anything  I  have  said ;  for  you  can- 
not think  how  I  feel  for  you.  My  natural 
heart  wTas  so  fond  of  the  same  worldliness, 
though  in  a  different  way.  I  struggled  for 
months,  or  I  may  say,  years,  between  God 
and  the  world  ;  but  never  did  I  enjoy  peace 
or  happiness  the  whole  time.  No  one  knew 
what  I  endured.  May  you  be  spared  the 
bitter  conflict,  and  choose  the  better  part 
at  once  and  unreservedly." 

"Dead  to  the  world,  we  dream  no  more 
Of  earthly  pleasures  now  ; 
Our  deep,  divine,  unfailing  spring 
Of  grace  and  glory — Thou  !" 


13E  YE  FOLLOWERS  OF  GOD. 

ThoU  art  to  be  in  thy  work  a  copyist,  im- 
itator of  God.    Now,  wbatev6r   God  does, 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  79 

He  does  perfectly.  If  it  be  but  the  creation 
of  a  leaf  or  flower,  it  is  clone  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  that  the  most  minute  and  microscopic 
examination  only  serves  to  bring  out  fresh 
beauties.  Strive  to  do  thy  work  iu  such  a 
manner.  Let  it  be  thy  earnest  effort  that 
he  who  looks  into  it  shall  find  no  flaw. 
Let  the  thing  not  only  be  done,  but  be  done 
gracefully  and  ornamentally,  as  far  as  may 
be.  It  is  a  great  and  precious  thought  that 
God  may  be  pleased  by  service  done  with 
the  whole  soul,  and  with  strict  punctuality 
and  conscientiousuess. 


CONSIDER  ONE  ANOTHER. 
"Tlio  Lord  turned  the  captivity  of  Job  wlien  Job 
prayed  for  bis  friends  :  also  tbe  Lord  gave  Job  twice  aa 
muck  as  he  bad  before." 

When  Job  prayed  for  his  friends  the 
Lord  turned  his  captivity.  And  I  suppose 
it  is  generally  by  some  simple  means  that 


So  COUNSEL   AXD    COMFORT 

Doubting  Castle  is  lefh  behind ;  the  sudden 
use  of  that  key  called  Promise,  or  the  mere 
effort  to  guide  another  soul  out  of  the  dark 
labyrinths  of  Giant  Despair.  For  even  in 
sorrow  it  is  quite  possible  to  think  too  much 
about  one's  self.  As  soon  as  Job  looked  at 
the  wants  of  others  he  saw  his  own  exceeding 
riches  as  a  child  of  God ;  and  presently  Job 
had  twice  as  much  as  he  had  before. 
Bury  thy  sorrow — 

The  world  has  its  share- 
Bury  it  deeply, 

Hide  it  with  care. 
Think  of  it  calmly 

When  curtained  by  night 
Tell  it  to  Jesus, 
And  all  will  be  right." 


A  SOLEMN  THOUGHT. 

It  is  an  old  saying,  and  one  of  fearful  and 
fathomless  import,  that  we  are  here  forming 
characters  for  eternity.  Forming  characters  I 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  Si 

Whose  ?  Oar  own,  or  others?  Both  ;  and 
in  that  momentous  fact  lies  the  peril  and  re- 
sponsibility of  our  existence.  Thousands  of 
our  fellow-beings  will  yearly,  and  till  years 
shall  end,  enter  eternity  with  characters  dif- 
ferent from  those  they  would  have  carried 
thither  had  we  never  lived." 


THE  FATHERHOOD    OF    GOD. 

When  I  consider  how  I  feel  toward  my 
children,  how  I  would  clothe  them  with 
every  inward  excellence,  and  give  them  every 
outward  opportunity ;  how  my  life  is  a  kind 
of  a  school  for  them,  to  take  them  into  a  higher 
manhood — when  I  consider  this,  I  think,  "If 
I,  being  evil,  know  how  to  do  this,  what  is 
the  great  soul  of  Jesus,  which  proves  its  love 
by  dying  for  us  ?  What  must  be  the  thought 
and  desire  of  Christ  for  His  household  ?  " 
And  if  the  little  girl  can  come  in  from  her 
frets  and  anxieties  and  sorrows,  and  hide  her 
6 


82  COUNSEL  AXD   COMFORT 

head  in  lier  mother's  arms,  and  the  mother 
will  console  her,  and  comfort  her,  and  caress 
her,  kissing  away  her  tears,  and  send  her 
out  again,  all  brightened  and  happy,  do  you 
believe  that  the  soul  that  nestles  in  the  arms 
of  Jesus  Christ  can  go  away  without  being 
comforted  and  consoled  ?  Do  not  you  believe 
that  if  you  abide  in  Jesus  Christ,  He  will  do 
more  for  }tou  than  any  earthly  parent  can  do 
for  a  child?  Every  pain,  and  temptation, 
and  burden,  and  care,  and  sorrow  in  life  is  to 
be  alleviated  by  the  grace  of  God,  through 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  There  is  provision 
for  this  very  deliverance  in  the  heart  of  the 
Saviour. 


MY  NEED  AXD  THY  LOVE. 

A  devoted  minister  of  Christ  said  on  his 
living  bed  that  his  religious  experience  was 
all  expressed  in  these  two  verses : 

"0  Saviour,  I  have  naught  to  plead 
In  earth  beneath  01  heaven  above. 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  8 

But  just  my  own  exceeding  need, 
And  Thy  exceeding  love. 

1  The  need  will  soon  be  past  and  gone- 
Exceeding  great  but  quickly  o'er  ; 

The  love  unbought  is  all  Thine  own, 
And  lasts  foreverraore." 


ONE  OF  THE  JOYS  OF  HEAVEN. 

When  I  see  dying  Christians,  they  always 
seem  to  ine,  with  their  dim,  closing  eyes, 
like  people  who  have  gazed  a  long  time  at 
the  sun,  till,  completely  dazzled  with  its  bril- 
liance, their  eyelids  close.  Oh  !  it  must  be 
delightful,  out  of  the  night  of  this  earth  and 
the  dark  death-chamber,  to  be  received  into 
the  light  of  eternal  life,  and  to  complete 
and  realize  the  text :  "  It  doth  not  yet  ap- 
pear what  we  shall  be."  I  have  been  think- 
ing this  Christmas-time,  that  wrhen  I  get 
hence  I  will  seek  out  one  of  the  shepherds  of 
Bethany,  and  get  him  to  relate  to  me  how 
they  felt  when  they  saw  the   glory   of  the 


84  COUNSEL  AXD   COMFORT 

Lord  hovering  over  them.  Lately,  as  I  was 
preaching  about  the  deluge,  and  describing- 
its  terrors,  I  resolved  to  ask  Noah  to  tell  me 
the  whole  story.  Indeed,  I  will  begin  at 
the  beginning  with  Adam,  and  have  the 
whole  Bible  history  related  to  me  gradually, 
and  I  am  only  afraid  that  eternitj^  will  be  too 
short,  especially  when  we  come  to  the  Pas- 
sion, for  then  I  shall  get  it  related  separately 
by  every  one  who  was  present ;  and  if  St. 
Paul  could  say,  even  on  earth,  "I  determined 
not  to  know  an}rthing  amongst  you  save 
Jesus  Christ  and  Him  crucified ; "  or,  "  God 
forbid  that  I  should  glory  save  in  the  cross 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,by  whom  the  world 
is  crucified  unto  me,  and  I  unto  the  world  ;" 
or  when  he  tuned  his  song  of  triumph  already 
uj_  on  earth  :  "  Henceforth  let  no  man  trouble 
me  ;  for  I  bear  in  my  body  the  marks  of  the 
Lord  Jesus " — what  must  it  bo  to  hour  him 
in  heaven  glory  in  tin;  Lord  alone  ! 


FOE  DAILY  LIFE.  85 

INWARD  TRIALS. 

All  who  desire  conformity  to  Christ  must 
be  perfected  with  Him  through  manifold 
discipline.  To  some  are  appointed  outward 
afflictions,  to  others  spiritual  difficulties.  If 
rightly  received,  they  are  among  God's 
richest  blessings.  But  we  are  slow  to  re- 
cognize His  hand  in  inward  trials.  We  are 
depressed  and  cast  down  by  the  sight  of  our 
guilt  and  helplessness.  We  fear  that  our 
iniquity  has  come  between  us  and  God.  We 
are  in  heaviness  through  manifold  tempta- 
tion. How  apt  is  the  poet's  description  of 
this  dark  experience ! 

I  asked  the  Lord  that  I  might  grow 
In  faith,  and  love,  and  every  grace  ; 

Might  more  of  His  salvation  know, 
And  seek  more  earnestly  His  face. 

'Twas  He  who  taught  me  thus  to  pray, 
And  He,  I  trust,  has  answered  prayer  ; 

But  it  has  been  in  such  a  way 
As  almost  drove  me  to  despair. 


86  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

I  hoped  that  in  some  favored  hour, 
At  once  He'd  answer  my  request ; 

And  by  His  love's  constraining  power, 
Subdue  my  sins  and  give  me  rest. 

Instead  of  this  He  made  me  feel 
The  hidden  evils  of  my  heart  ; 

And  let  the  angry  powers  of  hell 
Assault  my  soul  in  every  part. 

Yea,  more,  with  His  own  hand  He  seemed 
Intent  to  aggravate  my  woe  ; 

Crossed  all  the  fair  designs  I  schemed, 
Blasted  my  gourds,  and  laid  me  low. 

"Lord,  why  is  this?"  I  trembling  cried, 
1 '  Wilt  Thou  pursue  Thy  worm  to  death  ?'1 

*"Tis  in  this  way,"  the  Lord  replied, 
"  I  answer  prnycr  for  grace  and  faith. 

"These  inward  trials  I  employ, 

From  self  and  pride  to  set  thee  free  ; 
And  break  thy  schemes  of  earthly  joy, 
That  thou  mayest  seek  thy  all  in  Me." 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  %7 

HOW  SHALL  I  READ  THE  BIBLE? 

Secure,  if  possible,  seclusion  and  quiet. 
The  fear  of  interruption  distracts  the  mind, 
and  so  does  a  feeling  -of  haste. 

Never  begin  to  read  without  first  lifting 
up  to  God  an  earnest  request  for  His 
guidance,  instruction,  and  blessing, 

Study  what  Jesus  says  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
(John  xvi.  7,  13,  14,  15),  until  not  a  sha- 
dow of  a  doubt  beclouds  an  habitual  and 
affectionate  remembrance  of  Him  as  your 
infallible  teacher. 

Do  not  attempt  to  read  too  much.  Some- 
times you  will  be  able  to  read  a  chapter  or 
several  chapters  with  attention,  facilit}r,  and 
profit;  at  other  times,  you  will  do  better  to 
pause  upon  a  single  verse.  Analyze  the 
Terse;  inquire  how  many  thoughts  does  this 
verse  contain ;  try  if  you  can  recall  other 
verses  which,  inculcate  the  same  truth ;  in- 


88  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

quire  if  the  verse  lias  any  special  application 
to  yourself. 

Read  with  your  pen  in  hand,  and  note  in 
your  memorandum-book  the  thoughts  which 
interest  you.  Study  the  Bible  with  un- 
wearied endeavors  to  know  and  love  Jesus, 
as  you  would  study  the  letters  of  some 
friend  whom  you  had  never  seen,  but  whom 
you  wished  to  know  and  love. 

Seek  fresh  thought.  "Give  us  this  day 
our  daily  bread"  is  the  appropriate  prayer 
of  one  who  desires  to  feed  upon  the  word  of 
God.  Yesterday's  perceptions,  impressions, 
and  emotions  will  not  suffice  for  to-day. 
They  must  be  renewed  and  increased  by  to- 
day's stud}'. 

From   each   reading   of   the  holy   Scrip- 
tures,  get  at   least  one  fresh,  distinct,  im- 
»ve  thought,  and  dwell  upon  it.     Many 
of  the  Psalms  are    prayers    and    praises. 

Select  some  one  of  those  petitions  or  ascrip- 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  89 

tions  of  praise,  adopt  it  as  your  own,  and 
repeat  it  many  times  to  God. 

Sustain  yourself  by  the  remembrance 
that  Bible-knowledge,  like  other  knowledge, 
must  increase  from  small  beginnings.  Un- 
wearied patience  and  perseverance  are  in- 
dispensable ;  you  must  add  thought  to 
thought,  prayer  to  prayer.  Bible  wisdom 
echoes  the  voice  of  God  :  "  Ye  shall  seek  me 
and  find  me,  when  ye  shall  search  for  me 
with  all  your  heart." 

Study  the  Bible  with  the  utmost  care  to 
know  yourself ;  to  know  the  whole  of  your 
case,  and  especially  to  know  whereiu  you 
fail  to  do  the  will  of  God. 


THE  SECRET  OF  SUCCESS. 

It  is  recorded  of  one  of  the  Reformers, 
that  when  he  had  acquitted  himself  in  a 
public  disputation  with  great  credit  to  his 
Master's  cause,  a  friend  begged  to  see  the 


9°  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

notes,  which  he  had  been  observed  to  write, 
supposing  that  he  had  taken  down  tho 
arguments  of  his  opponents,  and  sketched 
the  substance  of  his  own  reply.  Greatly 
was  he  surprised  to  find  that  his  notes  con- 
sisted simply  of  the  ejaculatory  petitions — 
'  More  light,  Lord — more  light — more  light!' 
And  how  fully  was  the  true  spirit  of  prayer 
compressed  and  illustrated  in  these  short 
aspirations  !  Could  they  fail  of  success  ? 
"If  any  of  you  lack  wisdom,  let  him  ask  of 
God,  that  giveth  to  all  men  liberally,  and 
upbraidetli  not,  and  it  shall  be  given  him." 


WHAT  IS  IT  TO  ABIDE  IN  JESUS? 

To  abide  in  Jesus  is  just  to  keep  always 
the  very  atlitude  taken  when  Jesus  was 
accepted. 

As  ye  have  received  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
so  walk  ye  in  Him — rooted  and  grounded  in 
Him,  sailh  fchc  apostle. 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  9* 

We  received  Him  very  humbly.  We  felt 
our  place  to  be  in  the  dust ;  our  righteousness 
to  be  rags ;  our  power  to  be  weakness  ;  and 
looked  to  Christ  for  all  things. 

Even  so  abide,  so  walk  ye  in  Him.  He 
who  is  lifted  up  with  the  idea  of  some 
exalted  state  of  purity,  or  power,  or  safety 
gained,  has  in  so  far  forgotten  the  apostolic 
injunction,  and  is  not  in  the  lowly  way 
where  Christ  was  received  by  him ;  his  joy 
is  in  Ids  state,  not  in  Christ ;  his  trust  is  in 
his  own  attainments,  not  in  Christ. 

The  command  is  not — Now  you  have  got 
into  a  high  and  holy  state,  so  walk  in  that, 
but,  Even  as  ye  received  Christ  Jesus,  so 
walk  in  Him. 


MY  DEBT  TO  CHRIST. 
All  that  I  was — my  sin,  my  guilt, 

My  death  was  all  my  own  ; 
All  that  I  am,  I  owe  to  Thee, 

My  gracious  God,  alone. 


COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

The  evil  of  my  former  state 
Was  mine  arid  only  mine  ; 

The  good  in  which  I  now  rejoice 
Is  Thine  and  only  Thine. 

The  darkness  of  my  former  state, 
The  bondage  all  was  mine  ; 

The  light  of  life  in  which  I  walk, 
The  liberty  is  Thine. 

Thy  grace  first  made  me  feel  my  sin, 

It  taught  me  to  believe  ; 
Then  in  believing,  peace  I  found, 

And  now  I  live,  I  live. 

All  that  I  am,  e'en  here  on  earth, 

All  that  I  hope  to  be, 
When  Jesus  comes  and  glory  dawns, 

I  owe  it,  Lord,  to  Thee. 


FELLOWSHIP  WITH  JESUS. 

Blessed  is  he  that  understan&eth  what  ifc 
is  to  love  Jesus,  and  to  despise  himself  for 
Jesus'  sake. 

When  Jesus   is  present,   all  is  well,  and 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  93 

nothing  seems  difficult ;  but  when  Jesus  is 
not  present,  everything  is  hard. 

Most  poor  is  he  who  liveth  without  Jesus ; 
and  he  most  rich  who  is  dear  to  Jesus. 

Love  Him,  and  keep  Him  for  thy  friend, 
who  when  all  go  away,  will  not  forsake  thee, 
nor  suffer  thee  to  perish  in  the  end. 

Amongst  all,  therefore,  that  be  dear  unto 
thee,  let  Jesus  alone  be  especially  beloved. 


PILLOW  PKAYEBS. 

He  who  Knows  nothing  of  pillow  prayers 
is  ignorant  of  one  of  the  sweetest  modes  of 
prayer  practicable  on  earth.  The  day  with 
its  engrossments  being  gone,  it  is  a  most 
favorable  time  for  the  gathering  in  of  our 
thoughts  upon  ourselves — our  sins,  our 
wants,  fears,  and  hopes,  and  then  the  turn- 
ing of  them  up  towards  heaven.  This  is 
what  the  Psalmist  is  apparently  referring  to 
in  his  words,  "  When  I  remember  thee  upon 


94  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

my  bed,  and  meditate  upon  thee  in  the 
night-watches. "  That  he  uttered  many  a 
pillow-prayer  is  a  thousand-fold  more  than 
probable.  "  I  have  remembered  thy  name, 
O  Lord,  in  the  night."  ".I  prevented  the 
dawning  of  the  morning  and  cried."  Those 
cries  were  prayers  before  the  dawn  of  day. 

If  these  prayers  of  the  pillow,  however, 
be  begotten  only  of  sheer  evening  sloth,  wc 
may  say  of  them  that  they  are  "  bastards, 
and  not  sons."  Bat  if  they  are  -tho  legiti- 
mate children  of  weakness,  excessive  wea- 
riness, sickness,  or  other  similar  circum- 
stances, then  they  are  of  the  true  house  and 
lineage  of  heaven,  coming  down  in  kindred- 
ship  all  the  way  from  Bethel,  where  tho 
oveijaded  Jacob  had  his  angelic  vision  on 
Lis  pillow  of  stones. 

Invalids,  with  your  eyes  so  often  held 
long  waking  in  the  night  season,  distrust  not 
the    pillow    prayers;     Hundreds    aro    con- 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  9 5 

tinually  climbing  to  heaven  by  them,  as  on 
a  ladder.  If  }rou,  perchance,  fall  asleep  in 
the  act,  do  not  fret  about  it.  For  what 
opiate  from  the  shop  of  the  apothecary  is 
so  harmless  as  such  an  out-breathing  of  your 
holiest  desires  upward?  What  is  sweeter 
than  to  lose  yourself  in  such  a  prayer? 
For  prayer  is  simply  a  form  of  thought  to- 
ward God,  and  nothing  can  be  more  fitting 
to  the  very  last  moments  of  daily  con- 
sciousness than  such  thoughts. 


"REST,  WEARY  SOUL!" 

Be  careful  for  nothing,  in  the  calm  and 
holy  assurance  that  God  is,  for  our  sakes, 
caring  for  every  tiling. 


"OUR  SINGLE  ACRE." 

Few  are  needed  to  do  the  out-of-the-way 
tasks  which  startle  the  world,  and  one  may 
be  most   useful    jnst   doing   commonplace 


9&  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

duties  and  leaving  the  issue  with  God.  And 
when  it  is  all  over,  and  our  feet  will  run  no 
more,  and  our  hands  are  helpless,  and  we 
have  scarcely  strength  to  murmur  a  last 
prayer,  then  wre  shall  see  that  instead  of 
needing  a  larger  field,  we  have  left  untilled 
many  corners  of  our  single  acre,  and  that 
none  of  it  is  fit  for  our  Master's  eye,  were  it 
not  for  the  softening  shadow  of  the  cross. 


TRUST  HIM  WHOLLY. 

The  man  who,  after  having  cast  his  care 
on  Christ,'  goes  to  fretting  and  worrying 
himself  about  anything  or  anybody,  is  like 
one  who,  having  purchased  a  through  ticket 
from  here  to — anywhere,  and  receiving  a 
check  for  his  baggage,  gets  out  of  the  car  at 
the  end  of  a  mile  or  two,  and  shouldering 
his  trunk,  starts  to  go -the  rest  of  the  way 
alone.  Christ  never  rolls  back  upon  us 
burdens  that  we  lay  on  Him  ;  wo  take  them 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  97 

back  ourselves.  What  is  a  religion  worth 
that  will  stay  with  a  man  in  the  sunshine, 
but  clear  out  in  a  storm?  The  Christian 
has  a  right,  and  it  is  his  duty,  to  be  free 
from  all  care  and  anxiety.  Let  him  lie  on 
the  promises,  and  be  at  rest.  "  Oh !  but," 
says  the  doubting,  worrying  disciple,  "the 
promises  are  made  to  the  righteous ;  and  I 
am  so  full  of  imperfections,  I  dare  not  claim 
them."  Well,  brother,  if  you  wait  for  that 
righteousness  which  is  by  the  law,  you'll 
never  be  able  to  rest  on  the  promises ;  but 
if  you  trust  in  Christ,  that  is  counted  to  you 
for  righteousness;  and  your  right  to  the 
comfort  of  the  promises  is  as  good  as  though 
you  were  as  holy  as  an  angel.  Christ's  love 
sweeps  away  the  unworthiness  of  all  who 
sincerely  love  Him.  God  has  undertaken 
for  you ;  trust  Him,  though  you  know  not 
where  to  get  your  next  supply  of  bread. 
7 


9$  COUNSEL  AXD    COMFORT 

A  NOBLE  LIFE. 

Sir  Thomas  Fowell  Buxton  is  said  to 
have  resembled,  in  his  walk  through  the 
world,  "  a  man  passing  through  the  wards 
of  a  hospital,  and  stooping  down  on  all  sides 
to  administer  help  where  it  was  needed." 


DEPRESSION. 

When  we  are  uncomfortable  and  out  of 
sorts — just  sufficiently  unwell  not  to  be  able 
to  enjoy  anything,  but  not  incapacitated  for 
exertion — it  is  a  good  rule  at  such  a  time  to 
set  ourselves  resolutely  to  do  something  of 
which  we  shall  be  glad  afterwards. 


THE  SECRET  OF  EDIFICATION. 

To  be  true  to  God  and  to  tho  thought  of 
His  presence  all  day  long,  and  to  let  self 
occupy  as  little  as  possible  of  our  thoughts ; 
to  care  much  for  His  approval,  and  com- 
paratively little  for  the  impression  we   are 


FOE   DAILY  LIFE.  99 

making  upon  others;  to  feed  the-  inward 
light  with  oil,  and  then  freely  to  allow  it  to 
shine — this  is  the  great  secret  of  edification. 


H03IE  TRIALS. 

"  You  know,"  I  began,  "  dear  Mrs.  Camp- 
bell, that  there  are  some  trials  that  cannot 
do  us  any  good.  They  only  call  out  all 
there  is  in  us  that  is  unlovely  and  severe." 

"  I  don't  know  of  any  such  trials,"  she 
replied. 

"Suppose  you  had  to  live  with  people 
who  were  perfectly  uucod genial ;  who 
misunderstood  you,  and  who  were  always 
getting  into  your  way  as  stumbling-blocks?" 

"  If  I  were  living  with  them  and  they 
made  me  unhappy,  I  would  ask  God  to 
relieve  me  of  this  trial  if  He  thought  it  best. 
If  He  did  not  think  it  best,  I  would  then  try 
to  find  but  the  reason.     He  might  have  two 


IOO  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

reasons.  One  would  be  the  good  they  might 
do  me.  The  other  the  good  I  might  do 
them." 

"But  in  the  case  I  was  supposing,  neither 
party  can  be  of  the  least  use  to  the  other." 

"  You  forget,  perhaps,  the  indirect  good 
one  may  gain  by  living  with  uncongenial, 
tempting  persons.  First,  such  people  do 
good  by  the  very  self-denial  and  self-control 
their  mere  presence  demands.  Then,  their 
making  one's  home  less  home-like  and 
perfect  than  it  would  be  in  their  absence, 
may  help  to  render  our  real  home  in  heaven 
more  attractive." 

"But  suppose  one  cannot  exercise  self- 
control,  and  is  always  flying  out,  and  flaring 
up?"  I  objected. 

"  I  should  say  that  a  Christian  who  was 
always  doing  that,"  she  replied,  gravely, 
"  was  in  pressing  need  of  just  the  trial  God 
sent  when  He  shut  him  up  to  such  a  life  of 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  JO  I 

hourly  temptation.  We  only  know  ourselves 
and  what  we  really  are,  when  the  force  of 
circumstances  brings  us  out." 

"  It  is  very  mortifying  and  painful  to  find 
how  weak  one  is." 

"  That  is  true.  But  our  mortifications  are 
some  of  God's  best  physicians,  and  do  much 
toward  healing  our  pride  and  self-conceit." 

"Do  you  really  think,  then,  that  God 
deliberately  appoints  to  some  of  His  children, 
a  lot  where  their  worst  passions  are  excited, 
with  a  desire  to  bring  good  out  of  this 
seeming  evil!  Why,  I  have  always  sup- 
posed the  best  thing  that  could  happen  to 
me,  for  instance,  would  be  to  have  a  home 
exactly  to  my  mind ;  a  home  where  all  were 
forbearing  and  good-tempered;  a  sort  of 
little  heaven  below\" 

"  If  you  have  not  such  a  home,  my  dear, 
are  you  sure  it  is  not  partly  your  own 
fault  ?" 


102  COdXSEL  A  XI)   COMFORT 

"  Of  course  it  is  my  own  fault.  Because 
I  am  very  quick-tempered,  I  want  to  live 
with  good-tempered  people." 

"  That  is  very  benevolent  in  yon,"  she 
said,  archly.     I  colored,  but  went  on. 

"  Oh,  I  know  I  am  selfish.  And  therefore 
I  want  to  live  with  those  who  are  not  so.  I 
want  to  live  with  those  persons  to  whom  I 
can  look  for  an  example,  and  who  will  con- 
stantly stimulate  me  to  something  higher." 

"But  if  God  chooses  quite  another  lot  for 
you,  }'ou  may  be  sure  that  He  sees  you  need 
something  totally  different  from  what  you 
want.  You  said  jnst  now  that  you  would 
gladly  go  through  any  trial  in  order  to 
attain  a  personal  love  to  Christ,  that  should 
become  the  ruling  principle  of  your  life. 
Now  as  soon  as  God  sees  this  desire  in  you, 
is  He  not  kind,  is  He  not  wise  in  appointing 
such  trials  as  He  knows  will  lead  to  this 
end  ?" 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  103 

«MY  PILGRIMAGE." 

Teustingly,  trustingly, 

Jesus  to  Thee 
Come  I ;  Lord,  lovingly 

Come  Thou  to  me  ! 
Then  shall  I  lovingly 
Then  shall  I  joyfully 

Walk  here  with  Thee. 

Peacefully,  peacefully 

Walk  I  with  Thee  ; 
Jesus  my  Lord,  Thou  art 

All,  all  to  me. 
Peace  Thou  hast  left  us, 
Thy  peace  hast  given  us  ; 

So  let  it  be. 

Happily,  hajjpily, 

Pass  I  along, 
Eager  to  work  for  Thee, 

Earnest  and  strong. 
Life  is  for  service  true, 
Life  is  for  battle  too, 

Life  is  for  son?. 


104  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

THOUGHTS   ON  PUBLIC   WORSHIP. 

Do  not  allow  public  worship  to  degene- 
rate into  a  mere  saying  of  3rour  private 
prayers  in  church.  Think  of  the  many 
others  who  are  around  you,  of  their  sins, 
trials,  wants,  wishes,  mercies — trying  to 
throw  3*ourself  into  their  case.  Be  you 
praying  and  giving  thanks  for  them,  while 
they  are  praying  and  giving  thanks  for  you. 
The  closet  is  the  place  for  laying  down  the 
secret  burdens  at  the  Throne  of  Grace.  The 
church  is  the  place  for  the  intercommunion 
of  saints  with  one  another,  and  of  all  with 
God. 

Be  careful  to  make  in  an  audible  voice 
all  the  responses  prescribed  by  the  church. 
If  persons  around  us  in  the  congregation 
are  merely  silent  auditors  of  the  service,  our 
own  devotion  is  instantaneously  chilled. 
If,  on  the  other  hand,  they  have  all  tho 
appearance  of  earnest  worshippers,  devotion 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  J  o5 

soon  stirs  and  wakens  up  in  our  own  heart. 
Throw,  then,  your  contribution  of  heart,  and 
soul,  and  sympathy  into  the  service  of  the 
church,  by  making  the  responses  simply 
and  sincerely,  in  your  natural  voice. 


THE  LAW  OF  CHRIST. 

It  requires  far  more  of  the  constraining 
love  of  Christ  to  love  our  cousins  and  neigh- 
bors as  members  of  the  heavenly  family, 
than  to  feel  the  heart  warm  to  our  suffering 
brethren  in  Tuscany  or  Madeira.  To  love 
the  whole  Church  is  one  thing ;  to  love — 
that  is,  to  delight  in  the  graces  and  veil  the 
defects  of  the  person  who  misunderstood  me 
and  opposed  my  plans  yesterday,  whose 
peculiar  infirmities  grate  on  my  most  sensi- 
tive feelings,  or  whose  natural  faults  are 
precisely  those  from  which  my  natural 
character  most  revolts,  is  quite  another. 

But  this  need  not  be  so.     The  daily  inter- 


106  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

course  of  life  might  deepen  our  spiritual 
communion,  instead  of  superseding  it.  Mu- 
tual infirmities,  necessarily  known  to  one 
another,  and  together  confessed  to  the 
Father  in  heaven,  may  uuite  us  more  closely 
than  common  success  and  joy.  If  we  could 
only  learn,  whilst  dealing  with  our  own 
infirmities  as  sins,  to  regard  the  faults  of 
those  dear  to  us,  as  we  would  regard  their 
affections,  being  as  tender  and  prayerful 
over  their  spiritual  as  we  Would  over  their 
bodily  sickness  ;  or,  better  still,  if  we  could 
look  on  one  another's  faults  as  common 
enemies  ;  blending  with  our  every-day  occu- 
pations and  pleasures,  the  light  of  heavenly 
hopes  and  the  energy  of  heavenly  aims ; 
praying  together  as  thoso  only  can,  the 
inmost  secrets  and  homeliest  details  of 
whose  lives  are  known  to  one  another — our 
homi  s  might  indeed  become  sanctuaries,  our 
families,  the  two  or  three  gathered  together 


FOll  DAILY  LIFE.  107 

iu  Christ's  name,  where  He  is  in  the  midst ; 
our  social  intercourse,  as  hallowed  as  our 
religious  assemblies. 


THE  WAITING  TIME. 

No  time  of  seeming  inactivity  is  laid  upon 
you  by  God  without  a  just  reason.  It  is 
God  calling  upon  you  to  do  His  business  by 
ripening  in  quiet  all  your  powers  for  some 
higher  sphere  of  activity  which  is  about  to 
be  opened  to  you.  The  time  is  coming 
■when  you  shall  be  called  again  to  the  front 
of  the  battle.  Let  that  solemn  thought  of 
dread,  yet  kindling  expectancy,  fill  the  cup 
of  your  life  with  the  inner  work  of  self-de- 
velopment which  will  make  you  ready  and 
prepared  when  your  name  is  called.  The 
eighteen  years  at  Nazareth,  what  was  their 
result  ?  A  few  years  of  action,  but  of  ac- 
tion concentrated,  intense,  infinite  ;  not  one 
word,  not  one  deed,  which  did  not  tell,  and 


IOS  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

which  will  not  tell,  upon  the  universe  for- 
ever. 

Eighteen  years  of  silence,  and  then — the 
regeneration  of  the  world  accomplished,  His 
Father's  business  done. 


THE  ETERNITY  OF  GOD. 

Weae,  weak,  forever  weak  ! 

"We  cannot  hold  what  we  possess  ; 
Youth  cannot  find,  age  will  not  seek — 

Oh,  weakness  is  the  heart's  worst  weariness  : 
But  weakest  hearts  can  lift  their  thoughts  to  Thee— 
It  makes  us  strong  to  think  of  Thine  eternity  ! 

Self-wearied,  Lord,  I  come  ! 

For  I  have  lived  my  life  too  fast ; 
Now  that  years  bring  me  nearer  home, 

Grace  must.be  slowly  used  to  make  it  last ; 
When  my  heart  beats  too  quick,  I  think  of  Thee, 
And  of  the  leisure  of  Thy  long  eternity. 

Then  on  Thy  grandeur  I  wilt  lay  me  down- 
Already  life  is  heaven  for  me — 

No  cradled  child  more  softly  lies  than  I— 
Come  soon,  eternity  ! 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  IC>9 

WORLDLINESS. 

Heart  engrossment  of  any  kind  is  world- 
liness  to  the  Christian.  Friendship,  if  it 
wholly  absorb  the  heart,  becomes  worklli- 
ness.  Duties,  even  those  of  religious 
benevolence,  when  proceeding  from  adulte- 
rated motives,  or  when  monopolizing  the 
mind  so  as  to  interfere  with  its  ascent  to 
the  upper  springs,  fall  into  the  low  rank  of 
things  of  the  world. 


A  THOUGHT  TOR  FRIENDS. 

"Love  in  life  should  strive  to  see 
Sometimes  what  love  in  death  would  be." 

Sanctity  in  our  friends  and  neighbors  is 
like  a  star.  We  take  no  notice  of  the  star 
while  the  sun  is  pouring  his  rays  over 
the  firmament,  and  the  full  stir  of  life  is 
around  us.  But  let  the  night  draw  her 
curtain  over  the  sky ;  and  the  star  in  all  its 
beauty  steals  out  to   view.     80  while  our 


HO  COUNSEL  AND    COMFORT 

friends  are  mixed  up  with  us  in  the  hurry 
and  commerce  of  life,  we  seem  unable  to 
disentangle  from  their  infirmities  the  saintli- 
ness  which  is  in  them.  But  they  die  ;  and 
something  comes  to  light  about  their  inward 
life  which  hitherto  had  escaped  every  eye 
but  God's,  and  we  begin  to  discover  that  the 
commonest  things  they  did  were  governed 
by  Christian  principle,  and  referred  to  God 
in  prayer,  and  perhaps  that  we  have  been 
for  years  walking  side  by  side  with  angels 
unawares.  Death  has  now  thrown  his  pall 
over  them ;  they  are  no  longer  in  the 
hubbub  of  life  or  the  strife  of  tongues ;  and 
the  star  of  their  sanctity  begins  to  twinkle 
brightly  to  our  eyes.  Oh  !  lest  remorse,  for 
having  appreciated  God's  saints  so  little, 
should  strike  a  chill  to  our  hearts  when  they 
are  taken  from  us,  lot  us  now  bo  on  the 
watch  for  any  tokens  of  good  in  ono  another, 
and  hail  such  tokens  with  affectionate  rever- 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  I  I  I 

ence.  Let  not  infirmities,  however  patent, 
blind  our  eyes  to  the  grace  which  there  may 
be  in  a  brother.  Let  us  hope  for  good  iu 
him,  promptly  believe  in  it,  joj^f Lilly  welcome 
it.  And  let  us  not  fail  to  bless  God  for 
every  example  of  faith  and  love  given  by 
His  people,  whether  still  in  a  state  of  war- 
fare, or  departed  to  their  rest,  beseeching 
Him  to  give  ns  grace  so  to  follow  their  good 
examples,  that,  with  them,  we  may  be  par- 
takers of  His  heavenly  kingdom. 

How  do tli  Death  speak  of  our  loved, 

When  it  hath  laid  them  low, 
When  it  hath  set  its  hallowing  touch 

On  lip  and  cheek  and  brow  ? 

It  clothes  their  every  gift  and  grace 
With  radiance  from  the  holiest  place, 
With  light  as  from  an  angel  face. 

Recalling,  with  resistless  force, 
And  tracing  to  their  hidden  source, 
Deeds  scarcely  noticed  in  their  course. 


112  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

This  little,  loving,  fond  device, 

That  daily  act  of  sacrifice, 

Of  which  too  late  wc  learn  the  price. 

Opening  our  weeping  eyes  to  trace 
Simple,  unnoticed  kindnesses, 
Forgotten  notes  of  tenderness. 

Which  evermore  to  us  must  bo 
Sacred  as  hymns  in  infancy, 
Learned  listening  at  a  mother's  knee. 

Thus  doth  Death  speak  of  our  beloved, 
When  it  hath  laid  them  low  ; 

Then  let  Love  antedate  the  work  of  death, 
And  do  this  now  ! 


MEDITATION. 

It  is  not  hasty  reading,  but  seriously 
meditating  upon  holy  and  heavenly  truths, 
that  makes  them  prove  sweet  and  profitable 
to  the  soul.  It  is  not  the  bee's  touching  on 
the  flowers,  that  gathers  honey,  but  her 
abiding  for  a  time  upon  them,  and  drawing 
out  the  sweet.     It  is  not  he  that  reads  most 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  113 

but  lie  that  meditates  most  on  divine  truth, 
that  will  prove  the  choicest,  wisest,  strongest 
Christian. 


ENTER  INTO  THY  CLOSET. 

I  feel  all  that  I  know  and  all  that  I  teach, 
will  do  nothing  for  my  soul  if  I  spend  my 
time,  as  some  people  do,  in  business  or 
company.  My  soul  starves  to  death  in  the 
best  company,  and  God  is  often  lost  in 
prayers  and  ordinances.  "  Enter  into  thy 
closet,"  said  He,  and  "shut  thy  door." 
Some  words  in  Scripture  are  very  emphati- 
cal.  "  Shut  thy  door"  means  much;  it 
means,  shut  out,  not  only  nonsense,  but 
business ;  not  only  the  company  abroad, 
and  the  company  at  borne  ;  it  means,  let  thy 
poor  soul  hare  a  little  rest  and  refreshment, 
and  God  have  opportunity  to  speak  to  thee 
in  a  still,  small  voice,  or  He  will  speak  to 
thee  in  thunder. 


T  14  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

Come  escape  from  the  tempest  of  life, 
From  the  world  to  the  desert  retire  ; 

Quit  this  region  of  tumult  and  strife, 
To  rekindle  the  heavenly  fire. 

Poor  pilgrim  !  thy  strength  must  "be  sought 
In  the  heart-breathing  accents  of  prayer  ; 

In  public  the  battle  be  fought, 
But  in  secret  the  weapon  prepare. 

Oh,  rest  from  thy  labors  awhile  ; 

Go  alone,  on  the  mount,  with  thy  Lord, 
Go,  bask  in  the  beam  of  His  smile, 

And  feed  on  the  wealth  of  His  word. 


ONENESS  WITH   CHRIST. 

"Life  is  light."  Live  the  truth,  and  the 
life  of  truth  will  shine  from  you.  There  is 
light  evolved  in  all  the  developments  of 
physical  life  on  earth,  were  our  senses  fine 
enough  to  discern  it.  Life  is  the  light  of 
tho  world  of  spirit ;  therefore  spake  Paul  of 
"  epistles  written  on  the  heart."  Seize  the 
distinction  between  an  epistle  written  by  a 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  I  I  5 

school-boy,  painfully  and  formally,  contain- 
ing customary  announcements,  and  the 
epistle  of  a  friend,  in  which  his  heart  freely 
discourses,  and  we  meet  with  himself.  You 
may  find  many  a  Christian,  who,  with  pain 
and  effort,  writes  something  like  the  name 
of  Christ  on  his  life  and  actions,  in  which, 
however,  the  effort  is  palpable,  the  result 
formal  or  obscure.  Christ  sends  us  into  the 
world  that  our  frank  and  free  communication 
may  be  full  of  Him  ;  that  when  we  most 
speak  our  hearts  out,  we  may  speak  most  of 
our  Lord.  His  Father's  mind  was  most 
manifest  in  Him  when  He  most  truly  uttered 
His  own  mind ;  each  deeper  and  truer 
manifestation,  but  manifested  the  unity 
more  clearly ;  we  see  that  at  the  very  heart's 
core  they  were  one.  Is  this  your  oneness  ? 
Have  you  to  halt  and  check  yourselves  to 
watch  and  strive  when  you  wish  to  do  a 
Christ-like  action,  or  manifest  a  Christ-like 


I  I  6  COUSSEL   AND   COMFORT 

spirit ;  or  does  it  flow  from  you  like  musio 
from  a  heart  full  strung,  or  light  from  the 
fountain  of  clay?  I  know  it  cometh  not  by 
course  of  nature — this  heart-deep  sympathy 
with  Christ.  I  know  it  cometh  but  by  strife 
and  agony,  through  crucifying  the  desires  of 
the  flesh  with  more  than  human  resolution, 
and  by  drinking  the  cup  of  the  bitterness  of 
sin  to  the  very  dregs ;  still  it  may  come,  it 
does  come. 

"  If  airy  man  will  come  after  me,  let  him 
deny  himself,  and  take  tip  his  cross,  and 
follow  me."  Explore  the  depth  of  that  say- 
ing; have  inwrought  into  the  very  texture 
of  your  spirit-life,  the  image  of  your  Master, 
and  then,  whenever  your  nature  is  struck,  it 
will  sound  like  the  Memnon's  statue  at  the 
rosy  flush  of  morning,  and  make  the  very 
air  of  this  unholy  world  melodious  with  tho 
name  of  its  restored  and  rightful  King. 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  Hj 

LITTLE  THINGS. 

Christ  conies  to  us  morning  by  morning, 
to  present  to  us,  for  the  day  then  opening, 
divers  little  crosses,  thwar  tings  of  our  own 
will,  interference  with  our  plans,  disap- 
pointments of  our  little  pleasures.  Do  we 
kiss  them,  and  take  them  up,  and  follow  in 
His  rear,  like  Simon  the  Cj^renian  ?  Or  do 
we  toss  them  from  us  scornfully  because 
they  are  so  little,  and  wait  for  some  great 
affliction  to  approve  our  patience  and  our 
resignation  to  His  will?  Ah,  how  might 
we  accommodate  to  the  small  matters  of 
religion  generally,  those  words  of  the  Lord 
respecting  the  children,  "  Take  heed  that  ye 
despise  not  one  of  these  little  ones."  De- 
spise not  little  sins  ;  they  liave  ruined  many 
a  soul.  Despise  not  little  duties  ;  they  Vave 
been  to  many  a  saved  man  an  excellent  dis- 
cipline of  humility.  Despise  not  little  temp- 
tations ;  rightly  met  they  have  often  nerved 


I  I  8  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

the  character  for  some  fiery  trial.  And  de- 
spise not  little  crosses ;  for  when  taken  up, 
and  lovingly  accepted  at  the  Lord's  hand, 
they  have  made  men  meet  for  a  great  crown, 
even  the  crown  of  righteousness  and  life, 
which  the  Lord  hath  promised  to  them  that 
love  Him. 


THE  KEEPING  POWER  OF    CHRIST. 

I  remember  a  few  years  ago,  in  reading 
2  Thess.  ii.,  I  came  to  the  13th  verse,  where 
Paul  says,  "  We  are  bound  to  give  thanks 
always  to  God  for  you,  brethren,  beloved  of 
the  Lord,  because  God  hath  from  the  be- 
ginning chosen  you  to  salvation,  through 
sanctification  of  the  Spirit,  and  belief  of 
the  truth."  "  Through  sanctification  of  the 
Spirit"  Here  I  paused,  and  read  it  over  and 
over  again  ;  praying  that  God  would  sanctify 
me  wholly  by  the  Spirit.  This  verse  com- 
forted mo  many,  many  days.     I  felt  that  it 


FOR  DAILY  LTFZ.  I  19 

was  blessed  to  my  soul,  but  tlie  fulness  of 
its  meaning  was  not  yet  revealed  to  me. 
The  inward  currents  of  my  heart  were  not- 
stayed.  I  could  not  "standfast,  therefore, 
in  the  liberty  wherewith  Christ  hath  made 
us  free  ;"  for  I  was  "  entangled  "  again  and 
"  again  with  the  yoke  of  bondage."  I 
could  not  "  reckon  "  myself  "  dead  "  to  the 
perplexities  and  irritations  of  daily  life, 
which  a  heart  yearning  for  purity  condemns 
as  dishonoring  to  God.  More  earnestly 
than  ever,  and  many  times  a  day,  I  prayed 
for  strength  to  overcome ;  but  found  no 
rest  in  my  soul,  until  I  stopped  praying  for 
strength  to  overcome,  and  gave  myself  wholly 
to  God  to  he  kept.  At  this  time  the  Lord's 
Prayer  bscamo  a  new  and  wonderful  reve- 
lation to  me ;  I  found,  in  its  closing  words, 
the  full  warrant  for  thus  casting  myself 
wholly  on  the  Lord  for  deliverance.  "  And 
lead  us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver  113 


120  C0UN83L  AND   COMFORT 

from  evil.  For  thine  is  the  kingdom,  and 
the  poiccr,  and  the  ghry,  forever,  Amen." 
O  how  my  soul  was  filled,  as  I  realized  for 
the  first  time  that  it  was  His  power  that 
was  to  keep  me  !    "for  Thine  is  the  power." 

The  work  was  all  done  then ;  no  more 
striving,  no  more  praying  for  strength  to 
overcome,  but  simply,  day  by  day — 

"  Jesus,  keep  me,  for  Thine  is  the  power 
and  the  gloiy ;"  and  there  I  rest  and  am.  "kept. 


CASTING  ALL  ON  JESUS. 

I  left  it  all  with  Jesus 

Long  ago  ; 
All  my  sin  I  brought  Him, 

And  my  woe. 
When  by  faith  I  saw  Him 

On  the  tree, 
Heard  His  still,  small  whisper, 

<"Tis  for  thee"— 
From  my  heart  the  burden 

Boiled  away — 

Happy  day! 


FOP.   DAILY  LIFE.  121 

I  leave  it  all  with  Jesus 

Day  by  day  ; 
Faith  can  firmly  trust  Him, 

Come  what  may. 
Hope  has  dropp'd  her  anchor — 

Found  her  rest, 
In  the  calm,  sure  haven 

Of  His  breast ; 
Love  esteems  it  heaven 

To  abide 

At  His  side. 

Oil !  leave  it  all  vrith  Jesus, 

Drooping  soul ! 
Tell  not  half  thy  story, 

But  the  whole. 
Tvrorlds  on  worlds  are  hanging 

On  His  hand. 
Life  and  death  are  waiting 

His  command ; 
Yet,  His  tender  bosom 

Makes  thee  room — 

Oh,  come  home ! 


122  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

PRAYER  A  SERVICE. 

We  do  not  think  enough  what  an  effect- 
ive service  prayer  is,  especially  intercessory 
prayer,  direct  application  by  name  for 
others,  laying  their  needs  and  cares,  all  they 
would  or  might  request  for  themselves,  be- 
fore God.  We  do  not  believe  as  we  should, 
how  it  might  help  those  we  so  fain  would 
serve,  penetrating  the  hearts  we  cannot 
open,  shielding  those  we  cannot  guard, 
teaching  where  we  cannot  speak,  comforting 
where  our  words  have  no  power  to  soothe  ; 
following  the  steps  of  our  beloved  through 
the  toils  and  perplexities  of  the  day,  lifting 
off  their  burdens  with  an  unseen  hand  at 
night.  No  ministry  is  so  like  that  of  an 
angel's  as  this — silent,  invisible,  known  but 
to  God  ;  through  us  descends  the  blessing, 
and  to  Him  alone  ascends  the  thanksgiving. 
Surely  not  an  employment  brings  us  so  near 
to  God  and  the  spirits  of  men,  as  interces- 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  I  23 

sory  prayer.  There  is  a  depth  of  wisdom 
in  the  words,  "If  we  only  spoke  more  to 
God  for  man,  than  even  to  man  for  God  !" 


MENTAL    GROWTH. 

I  would  have  every  man  of  close  occupa- 
tion, make  it  a  sacred  duty  to  keep  up  a 
living  knowledge  of,  and  interest  in,  some 
pursuit,  science,  art  or  craft,  outside  the 
circle  of  his  daily  task.  Thereby  he  will 
keep  his  mental  faculties  in  fair  play  upon 
their  appointed  objects,  and  lay  up  for  him- 
self a  pursuit  and  an  education,  which  will 
occupy  nobly  and  happily  the  autumn  of 
life.  What  men  want,  is  something  to 
carry  on  their  education  till  they  die,  some- 
thing which  will  continually  draw  them  out 
to  fresh,  observation,  fresh  reflection,  fresh 
acquisition,  with  ever  stronger  and  riper 
power.  Clip  a  bit  from  your  daily  earnings, 
rather  than  from  your  daily  study.     The 


124  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

play,  and  even  the  strain  of  the  faculties. — 
the  various  faculties  of  bod)',  and  mind,  and 
spirit,  in  wise  proportions  and  alternations 
— is  the  true  human  303^.  Plenty  to  think 
of,  plenty  to  observe,  plenty  to  pursue, 
plenty  to  delight  in,  plenty  to  help,  plenty 
to  love,  these  make  the  gladness  and  the 
riches  of  the  bein£. 


8ILENT  LIVES. 

How  many  there  are,  and  how  useful. 
Think  of  the  monotonous,  unknown,  unpre- 
tending work  of  the  mother  of  a  family. 
What  a  sameness  of  life,  what  a  continual 
routine  of  voiceless,  seemingly  insignificant 
duties  !  Little  tender  services,  little  watch- 
ful services,  little  watchful  teachings,  little 
grave  checkings,  little  gentle  guidihgs — line 
upon  line — hero  a  little  and  there  a  little. 
Little  anxious  yearnings,  little  quiet  prayers 
— and  so  the  life  goes  on,  and  if  her  heart  be 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE. 


125 


longing  to  spend  and  be  spent  in  her  dear 
Lord's  service,  perhaps  she  has  her  dull 
hours  of  depression ;  she  is  doing  nothing, 
can  do  nothing,  she  fears,  for  Christ.  No- 
thing ?  O  silent  lives !  how  much,  how  very 
much  you  may  do  in  this  world,  where  so 
much  has  to  be  done !  Mere  gentleness  and 
kindliness,  taught  by  God's  Spirit— of  this  we 
can  hardly  overvalue  the  influence  and  effect. 
But  to  have  a  nest  of  Christ's  little  ones  to 
rear  for  Him,  and  this  with  the  certainty  of 
His  aid  in  answer  to  prayer — what  shall  wg 
say  of  this?  O  work!  to  undertake  which, 
the  sweetest-toned  harp  in  heaven  might  bo 
gladly  laid  down ! 

"It  may  bo  thy  share  of  service 
His  purpose  to  complete, 
If  steadfastly  thou  guidest 
Those  little  wayward  feet. 

"One  little  footstep  passing 
The  path  that  Jesus  trod  ; 


2  6  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

One  little  spirit  resting 
In  loving  faith  on  God  ; 

"  One  little  life  more  earnest, 

More  hopeful,  and  more  pure- 
And  in  an  angel's  record 
Thy  life-work  shall  endure." 


OUR  WORK  HELD  IN  EVERLASTING    REMEMBRANCE. 

No  good  that  the  humblest  of  us  has 
wrought  ever  dies.  You  are  a  teacher.  If 
you  have  been  faithful,  some  good  has  flowed 
from  you  into  the  mind  and  heart  of  your 
pupil,  and,  perhaps,  he  was  aware  of  it  at  the 
time.  But  by  and  by,  other  influences  lend 
their  aid  to  form  his  mind  and  character,  and 
what  you  have  done  cannot  be  distinguished 
from  newer  forces,  which,  act  on  the  youth 
and  on  the  man.  Perhaps  you  have  thrown 
some  seed  into  his  mind,  which  after  long 
years  bears  fruit,  and  he  ascribes  the  good 
to  some  one  else.     What  then  ?     If  you  havo 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  I  27 

served  God  in  serving  him,  God  remembera 
it,  although  he  does  not.  There  is  one,  long, 
unerring  memory  in  the  universe,  out  of 
which  nothing  good  ever  fades. 


ABIDING  IN  CHRIST. 

It  is  not  so  much  working  for  God,  or 
speaking  for  God,  as  living  in  the  secret  of 
His  presence  which  most  glorifies  Him.  We 
must  so  seek  to  realize  our  Saviour's  pres- 
ence with  us,  and  in  us,  that  our  whole 
being  should  be  hushed,  and  quietly  ele- 
vated, and  controlled  in  every  little  thing, 
and  little  word ;  thus  we  shall  glorify  Him, 
and  shall  become  a  power  in  His  hands 
among  men. 


GOD'S  WAYS  OIT  ANSWERING  PRAYER. 

At  a  meeting  of  a  few  Christian  people ~ 
which  I  attended  in  a  foreign  city,  a  clergy- 
man, speaking  of  prayer,  said  :  "  God  some- 


128  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

times  answers  at  once ;  sometimes  He  gives 
us  some  better  thing  in  the  place  of  the 
particular  thing  we  ask ;  sometimes  he 
answers  by  the  very  contrary  of  what  we 
wished,  and  out  of  that,  springs  the  partic- 
ular thing  that  we  prayed  for." 


SPIRITUAL  WEAKNESS. 

Be  assured  that  one  cause  of  spiritual 
weakness  is  the  constant  dwelling  upon  self 
instead  of  upon  Christ.  Such  persons  study 
self  more  than  they  study  Christ,  and  then 
they  are  weak  in  courage — they  have  none ; 
weak  in  power — they  can  do  nothing  ;  weak 
in  love — it  centres  all  in  itself.  There  is  no 
expansiveness ;  there  is  no  going  forth  to 
others.  Why,  how  constantly  we  see  it,  my 
brethren— persons  that  are  in  affliction,  per- 
haps unable  to  get  out  much,  to  have  much 
intercourse  with  others.  A  great  many  per- 
sons visit  them,  but  it  is  always  in  tho  way 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  I  29 

of  sympathy,  giving  out  to  them,  compas- 
sionating them,  pitying  them,  making  them 
think  still  more  and  more  of  self.  Bat  when 
those  persons  recover  a  little,  let  them  make 
an  effort,  and  go  to  see  other  people,  and 
give  out  to  others,  instead  of  always  craving 
to  take  in,  and  how  wonderfully  they  are 
improved.  What  a  change  it  makes  when 
once  wre  are  occupied  with  the  sorrows 
of  others  instead  of  always  circling  just 
round  our  own. 

Oh,  it  is  not  good  for  some  minds  always 
to  be  taking  in  human  sympathy,  but  it  is  a 
good  thing  to  be  giving  out.  The  happiest 
are  those  that  have  large  sympathies  for  the 
sonvws  of  others ;  who  endeavor  to  cast 
their  own  cares. upon  the  Lord,  and  who  re- 
ceive from  Him  that  help  and  support  by 
which  they  are  comforted  themselves,  and 
enabled  to  comfort  others.  As  I  have  said, 
then,  these  persons  are  weak  because  they 


T30  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

look  in,  and  not  out — down,  and  not  up ;  so 
they  forget  what  Christ  is,  and  dwell  only 
on  what  they  themselves  are — poor  and 
wretched  and  miserable.  They  forget  all 
the  promises  of  God,  and  that  His  Word  is 
like  Himself — '  The  same  yesterday,  to-day, 
and  forever.' 


ONE  LIFE. 
*Ti3  not  for  man  to  trifle  !    Life  is  briel 

And  sin  is  here. 
Oar  age  is  but  the  falling  of  a  leaf, 

A  dropping  tear. 
We  have  no  time  to  sport  away  the  hours, 
All  must  be  earnest  in  a  world  like  ours. 

Not  many  lives,  but  only  one  have  we, 

OnOj  only  one  ! 
How  sacred  should  that  one  lifo  ever  be, 

That  narrow  span ! 
Day  after  day  filled  up  with  blessed  toil, 
Hour  after  hour  still  bringing  in  now  spoil. 


FOB,  DAILY  LIFE.  I31 

THE  PRECIOUS   BLOOD. 

It  is  precious  to  the  believer,  for  it  is  his 
staff  and  his  stay  in  all  his  pilgrimage.  He 
goes  daily  to  the  fountain  opened  for  sin 
and  all  uncleanness,  for  it  has  been  the  les- 
son of  his  Christian  life  to  know  his  weak- 
ness and  corruptions,  and  the  necessity  of  a 
ransom  greater  than  he  can  pay. 

As  the  Holy  Spirit  has  uncovered  to  his 
\ision  the  deep  depravity  of  his  heart,  as  his 
besetting  sins  have  often  carried  him  to  the 
verge  of  despair,  as  he  sees  himself  and 
knows  himself  so  differently  from  what  the 
world  sees  and  believes  him  to  be,  as  days 
of  sickness  and  loss  come  with  their  doubts 
and  fears  and  sorrows,  as  the  "  dark  valley" 
looms  up,  (though  it  may  be  a  long  way  off,) 
even  with  more  darkness  and  dread  than 
when  near  at  hand,  "  the  precious  blood  "  is 
unspeakably  precious ;  for  it  is  his  only 
reliance,  his  only  hope.     Nothing  else  will 


I32  COUNSEL   AND   COMFORT 

comfort,  nothing  else  will  strengthen, 
nothing  else  will  save. 

The  blood  of  Jesus,  shed  on  the  cross  for 
his  sins,  past,  present  and  to  come,  the  full, 
sufficient,  complete  payment  forever,  not 
because  he  is  good  or  that  he  first  loved  God, 
but  because  God  first  loved  him  and  gave 
Himself  a  sacrifice  and  propitiation  for  his 
sins. 

There  are  believers  who  will  never  enter 
into  the  fulness  of  joy  that  this  truth  should 
give  them,  until  they  shall  see  Him  as  He  is. 
They  can  understand  why  the  sick  go  to  the 
physician  all  the  days  of  their  sickness. 
They  love  the  man  who  has  delivered  from 
debt  and  imprisonment,  his  neighbor  who 
could  not  pay  his  creditor,  and  can  fully 
realize  that  the  obligation  to  that  creditor 
has  been  fully  discharged  forever  ;  but  their 
sins  and  repeated  falls  accuse  them  and  make 
them  doubt  even  to  the  last. 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  133 

But  the}r  never  turn  away  from  their  faith 
in  "  the  precious  blood,"  but  cling  to  it  as 
their  only  hope  and  trust,  and  through  it  they 
will  be  abundantly  saved  and  their  doubts 
and  self-condemnation  shall  be  buried  in 
the  ocean  of  His  righteousness,  and  their 
joy  shall  be  full. 

"  The  precious  blood "  has  given  us  all 
that  is  good  and  blessed  here.  It  lightens 
all  our  sorrows  and  sweetens  all  our  joys 
As  it  purchased  for  us  eternal  life,  so  has  it 
brought  us  our  earthly  comforts  and  given 
us  strength  for  each  day's  trials  and  troubles. 
It  gives  contentment  in  the  home  of  the 
poor,  resignation  and  peace  in  the  house  of 
mourning,  patience  and  submission  in  the 
chamber  of  sickness.  The  aching  heart 
looks  to  it  as  its  only  refuge,  the  thankful 
and  cheerful  know  that  its  blessed  gifts  are 
the  source  of  all  their  earthly  good.  The 
departing  soul  more  than  ever  knows  that 


134         couNsrx  and  comfort 

"  the  precious  blood "  has  washed  away 
every  stain,  and  prepared  for  ifc  an  inheri- 
tance incorruptible,  undefiled,  and  that 
fadeth  not  away. 

The  precious  blood  of  Christ,  the  begin- 
ning an»d  the  end,  the  source  of  all  true  joy 
on  earth,  the  only  ransom  that  will  be 
accepted  in  heaven,  what  shall  we  offer  in 
its  stead  in  that  day  when  God  shall  judge 
the  world  ? 


PAST  TROUBLES. 

How  many  troubles,  my  friends,  you  have 
been  through !  And  the  Lord  has  sustained 
you  in  every  one.  Where  are  the  troubles  of 
last  year  ?  Look  back  at  them.  How  many 
were  there?  You  cannot  count  them.  You 
have  only  a  vague  idea  of  them.  You  may 
have  passed  through  bankruptcy,  or  there 
may  have  been  a  death  in  your  family ;  but 
aside  from  these,  you  have  no  distinct  re- 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  130 

collection  of  tlie  troubles  that  yo  i  liavo 
had  within  the  past  year.  That  brood  of 
things  which  lowered  the  whole  tone,  the 
temperature  of  your  spirituality,  and  made 
those  wrinkles  on  your  brow — what  became 
of  them?  Did  they  hinder  you  or  hurl; 
you  ? 


THE  VOICE  OF  THE  BLOOD. 
"The  blood,  of  Jesus  pleads."-— Reid. 
0  blood  of  Jesus,  plead  for  me  ! 

Attend  my  fainting  cry  ; 
Tate  Thou  the  word  I  cannot  say, 
Within  the  holy  place  to-day, 
While  in  the  dust  I  He. 

0  blood  of  Jesus,  plead  for  me  ! 

Say,  "  I  the  debt  have  paid  ;" 
Say,  "I  the  law  have  quite  fulfilled, 
Now  must  its  fierce  demands  be  stilled, 

No  charge  to  her  is  laid." 

O  blood  of  Jesus,  plead  for  me  ! 
Plead  for  the  blind  and  weak, 


I  06  COUNSEL  AND   COMFOB'l 

Say,  "  I  her  surety  still  will  be  ; 
E'en  though  her  help  she  fail  to  see, 
I  her  sad  cause  will  spsak." 

O  blood  of  Jesus,  plead  for  me  ! 

Behold  my  awful  need  ! 
Say,  ' '  Here  my  power  I  must  display, 
Sin's  deepest  dye  to  wash  away — 

A  power  to  cleanse  indeed." 

0  blood  of  Jesus,  plead,  still  plead  ! 

A  holy  God  I  flee  ; 
Say,  "/her  case  will  undertake — 
Her  desperate  case,  and  sweetly  make 

Peace,  'twixt  this  soul  and  Thee." 


TRUE  REST. 

The  active  mind,  if  out  of  its  proper 
sphere,  corrodes  itself,  and  frets  itself  with 
plans  and  projects,  finding  no  rest.  Tlie  rest 
of  Christ  is  not  that  of  torpor,  but  harmony  ; 
it  is  not  refusing  the  struggle,  but  conquer- 
ing in  it ;  not  mst'iug/rom  duty,  but  finding 
rest  in  duty. 


FOB  DAILY  Lam.  137 

ON  HELPING  THE  POOR. 

Giving  is  the  smallest  and  easiest  part  of 
Christian  charity.  Time  is  far  more  pre- 
cious, and  efforfe  is  far  more  precious  than 
money  to  hard-worked  men.  And  money 
may  be  given  lavishly  to  save  time  and 
trouble,  and  may  very  easily  be,  Bay,  it  too 
constantly  is,  a  curse  instead  of  a  blessing 
to  the  poor.  The  Lord  had  no  money  to 
give,  nor  would  He  make  any.  This  last  is 
among  the  most  significant  features  of  His 
ministry.  And  the  poorest  Christian  minis- 
ters are  probably  those  who  at  this  moment 
are  doing  the  most  for  the  help  of  the  poor. 

The  poor  are  commonly  their  own  worst 
enemies.  Their  own  improvidence,  care- 
lessness, and  vice  share  fully  with  the 
condition  of  society,  the  responsibility  of 
their  state.  They  are  very  far  from  being 
their  true  friends  who  are  afraid  to  tell 
them  so — who  will  throw  a  sop  of  charity 


13$  COUNSEL  AND    COMFORT 

to  meet  their  momentary  need  and  to  win 
their  passing  gratitude,  instead  of  tenderly 
but  firmly  pressing  on  them  the  recognition 
of  the  evil  habits  and  passions,  out  of  which, 
after  all,  nine-tenths  of  their  evil  spring. 
To  cure  an  evil  habit,  to  brighten  a  sullen 
temper,  to  conquer  a  vicious  propensity  in 
the  poor  subjects  of  your  ministry,  is  to  give 
something  which  is  infinitely  more  precious 
than  gold  ;  it  is  a  gift  which  they  may  bear 
on  with  them  into  eternity. 


THE  EXAMPLE  OF   OUR  MASTER. 

How  much  even  of  our  graces  is  offered 
to  man  rather  than  to  God!  Even  in  our 
most  devoted  service,  what  a  seeking  there 
is,  perhaps  unconsciously,  to  be  something 
in  the  estimation  of  others ;  some  secret 
desire,  some  undetected  wish,  even  by  our 
very  service  to  be  greater  here !  The  very 
gifts  of  God  and  the  power  of  His  Spirit  aro 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  139 

sought,  the  better  to  give  us  a  place  in  this 
world.  Thus  are  our  very  graces  used  to 
obtain  for  us  glory,  not  of  God,  but  of  those 
around  us.  Surety  this  is  one  of  the  reasons 
why  God  can  trust  us  with  so  little,  for  with 
His  gifts  we  build  up  our  own  name,  instead 
of  His  name. 

But  how  unlike  all  this  is  to  our  Master ; 
yea,  how  unlike  even  to  His  Apostles! 
"Neither  of  men,"  says  Paul,  "sought  we 
glory,  neither  of  you,  nor  yet  of  others." 
This  is  our  calling,  not  only  to  be  nothing 
in  the  world,  but  to  be  willing  to  be  nothing 
even  among  our  brethren;  to  take  the 
nearest  place  to  Him,  who  has  indeed  taken 
the  lowest. 

Christ's  example  is  one  most  precious  to 
us.  His  service  to  His  neighbor  was  always 
"  an  offering  unto  the  Lord."  Thus  He 
gladly  was  spent  for  others,  though  the 
more  He  loved  them,  the  less  He  was  loved. 


14°  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

May  we  be  thus  like  Him,  that  so  through 
grace  we  may  be  steadfast.  If,  on  the  other 
hand,  our  labor  of  love  is  offered  for  man's 
acceptance,  when  man  rejects  us,  our  labor 
will  cease.  And  surely  this  is  the  secret  of 
much  of  our  half-hearted  service.  But  let 
us,  when  ministering  to  others,  offer  our- 
selves, like  Jesus,  "  unto  the  Lord,"  and  not 
unto  man;  then,  though  our  love  is  here 
slighted,  it  will  be  accepted  by  Him  to 
to  whom  we  offer  it. 


HE  KNOWETH   OUR  FRAME. 

He  knowetk  our  framo  :  Hd  rememboroth  that  we  aro  dust.— 
Vs.  ciii.  14. 

Lord,  is  it  wrong— this  state  of  things  ? 

I  hardly  know  : 
Each  little  bird  its  anthom  sings  ; 

I  feel  so  low, 
So  restless,  so  disheartened,  and  so  weary ! 
Life  seems  to  me  so  desolate  and  dreary  ! 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  Hl 

This  body  seems  to  drag  me  down : 

I  cannot  see 
The  beautiful,  unfading  crown, 

Prepared  for  me. 
Some  of  Thy  children  soem  so  full  of  light ! 
But  as  for  me,  my  day  is  almost  night ! 

I  do  believe  it  was  for  me 

That  Jesus  died  : 
And  Heaven's  door,  I  think  I  see, 

Is  opened  wide  : 
I  do  believe  that  He  will  let  me  in, 
And  that  His  blood  has  cleansed  me  from  my  sin. 

Oh  !  why  then  should  I  feel  afraid  ? 

Is  it  not  true, 
My  sins  were  all  on  Jesus  laid, 

And  sorrows  too  ? 
Hath  He  not  grace  enough  for  all  to-morrows  ? 
For  surely  He  hath  borne  our  griefs  and  sorrows  ! 

My  Father  !  0  how  sweet  the  name  ! 

Art  Thou  not  near  ? 
Say,  dost  Thou  pity  me  ?  or  blame  ? 

I  long  to  hear  ! 
Father  ?  My  Father  !    This  is  all  my  trust, 
That  Thou  rememberest  I  am  but  dust ! 


142  COUNSEL  AND   COMFOR'I 

Thou  knowest  well  my  frame,  for  Thou 
Hast  fashioned  mo  : 

The  darkness  all  around  me  now 
Is  light,  to  Thee  ! 

Then  take  me  by  the  hand,  and  lead  me  on, 

Thy  poor  blind  child,  until  the  night  be  gone  ! 

Until  tho  shadows  flee  away 

Before  the  sun, 
And  glorious,  everlasting  Day 

Shall  have  begun ! 
Meanwhile,  in  love  and  pity,  lead  Thou  me, 
For  all  my  expectation  is  from  Thee  ! 


THE  SPIRIT'S  GUIDING. 

As  a  man  increases  in  earnest  love  to 
Christ,  a  delicate  tact  grows  up  within  him, 
a  spiritual  instinct,  which  teaches  him  what 
he  ought  to  say  and  do,  and  what  he  had 
better  avoid  on  each  particular  occasion. 
True  love,  even  human  and  earthly  love,  is 
full  of  sensibilities ;  every  one  is  aware  how 
a  person,  whom  he  loves  and  seeks  to  please, 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  1 43 

will  take  a  tiling ;  without  being  wrong  or 
coarsely  offensive,  it  would  be  simply  out  of 
taste  to  say  or  do  such  and  such  things 
before  such  a  person ;  they  would  jar  upon 
hirn.  There  is  something  of  the  same  kind 
in  divine  love,  the  true  lover  of  Christ  being 
made  sensitive  by  the  Holy  Spirit  as  to  the 
line  of  conduct  which  pleases  or  displeases 
Him.  "I  will  instruct  thee  and  teach  thee 
in  the  way  which  thou  shalt  go ;"  this  is 
God's  gracious  promise  by  the  Psalmist; 
and  "  I  will  guide  thee  luith  mine  eye"  "  Be  ye 
not  as  the  horse,  or  as  the  mule,  which  have 
no  understanding;  whose  mouth  must  be 
held  in  with  bit  and  bridle."  Everybody 
knows  what  the  guidance  of  a  mother's  eye 
is,  while  the  children  are  around  her.  She 
need  not  speak.  A  glance  and  the  expres- 
sion of  her  countenance  convey  her  wishes 
sufficiently.  She  looks  up  in  alarm,  and  her 
eye  warns  the  little  ones  away  from  danger ; 


144  COUNSEL  AND   COMFOR-T 

they  are  industrious,  and  her  eye  betokens 
approval  ;  or  they  are  too  frolicsome,  and  a 
look  of  displeasure  checks  them.  God's 
children,  too,  know  the  meaning  of  His  eye. 
They  know,  by  the  glance  He  gives  them, 
what  path  He  would  have  them  pursue,  and 
what  avoid.  He  never  leaves  them  without 
an  interior  indication  of  His  will,  if  they 
have  but  one  desire,  that  of  pleasing  Him. 


HIS  ANSWER. 

A  Christian  friend,  calling  upon  a  poor 
old  woman  in  Scotland,  found  her  in  great 
pain,  and  expressed  sorrow  at  seeing  her 
Buffer  so  much.  "  Oh,"  said  Jeannie,  "  it's 
just  an  answer  to  prayer.  You  see,  I've 
lang  prayed  to  be  conformed  to  the  image 
of  Christ.  And  since  this  is  the  means,  I've 
naething  to  do  wi'  the  choosin'  o'  them.  It 
is  ours  to  aim  at  mectness  for  His  presence, 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  M-5 

and  to  leave  it  to  His  wisdom  to  take  His 
ain  way  wi'  us.  I  would  rather  suffer  than 
gin,  ony  day." 


LOVE  THE  FULFILLING  OF  THE  LAW. 

A  man  may  have  very  strong  conscien- 
tiousness ;  he  may  be  a  just  man,  and  a  true 
man,  and  a  moral  man,  and  yet  not  have  the 
critical  test  of  Christianity  ;  for  that  test  is 
love.  A  man  may  have  great  fervor  in 
prayer;  he  may  have  great  fervor  in  all 
forms  of  social  devotion  ;  he  may  be  raptur- 
ous and  exceedingly  happy;  and  yet  he 
may  not  have  a  critical  test  of  Christianity. 
It  is  not  fervor.  It  is  not  devoutness, 
though  it  includes  devoutness.  It  is  be- 
nevolence. It  is  the  power  to  love.  He 
who  knows  how  to  throw  out  a  flame 
from  his  affections  ;  he  who  knows  how  to 
make  persons  around  him,  wherever  he 
goes,  happy ;  he  who  knows  how  to  do  it 
10 


I46  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

morning,  and  noon,  and  niglit ;  lie  who 
knows  how  to  make  love  his  uniform  dispo- 
sition ;  he  who  knows  how  to  radiate 
sympathy,  and  gentleness,  and  kindness, 
and  forbearance,  and  patience  toward 
others,  and  to  make  men  feel  richer  for  his 
being  with  them — he  has  the  critical  test  of 
piety.  It  is  to  do  by  men  what  the  sunshine 
does  by  you — make  them  cheerful,  and  full 
of  life,  and  full  of  love,  and  full  of  fruit. 
These  are  the  New  Testament  tests  of 
Christian  character. 


NOT   LOST. 
The  look  of  sympathy,  the  gentle  word, 
Spoken  so  low  that  only  angels  heard  ; 
The  secret  art  of  puro  self-sacrifice, 
Unseen  by  men,  but  marked  by  angels'  eyes 
These  are  not  lost. 

The  sacred  music  of  a  tender  strain, 
Wrung  from  a  poet's  heart  by  grief  and  pain, 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  1 47 

And  chanted  timidly,  with  doubt  and  fear, 
To  busy  crowds  who  scarcely  pause  to  hear  ; 
It  is  not  lost. 

The  silent  tears  that  fall  at  dead  of  night, 
Over  soiled  robes  which  once  were  pure  and  white  ; 
The  prayers  that  rise  like  incense  from  the  soul, 
Longing  for  Christ  to  make  it  clean  and  whole  ; 
These  are  not  lost. 

The  happy  dreams  that  gladdened  all  our  youth, 
When  dreams  had  less  of  self  and  more  of  truth  ; 
The  childlike  faith,  so  tranquil  and  so  sweet, 
Which,  sat  like  Mary  at  the  Master's  feet ; 
These  are  not  lost. 

The  kindly  plans  devised  for  others'  good, 
So  seldom  guessed,  so  little  understood  ; 
The  quiet,  steadfast  love  that  strove  to  win 
Some  wanderer  from  the  woeful  ways  of  sin  ; 
These  are  not  lost. 

Not  lost,  0  Lord,  for  in  that  city  bright 
Our  eyes  shall  see  the  past  by  clearer  light ; 
And  things  long  hidden  from  our  gaze  below, 
Thou  wilt  reveal,  and  we  shall  surely  know 
They  were  not  lost. 


148  COUNSEL   AND   COMFORT 

THE  ART  OF  BEING  MISERABLE. 

KlNGSLEI  says  :  "  If  yon  should  wish  to 
be  miserable  you  must  think  about  yourself ; 
about  what  you  want,  what  you  like,  what 
respect  people  ought  to  pay  to  yon,  what 
people  think  of  you ;  and  then  to  you  noth- 
ing will  be  pure.  You  will  spoil  everything 
you  touch  ;  you  will  make  sin  and  misery 
for  yourself  out  of  everything  which  God 
sends  you  ;  you  will  be  as  wretched  as  you 
choose." 


HOW  TO  WORK. 

Let  it  be  firmly  settled  in  the  mind  be- 
fore we  put  our  hand  to  the  work,  and  let 
us  suffer  the  mind  from  time  to  time  to  re- 
vert to  the  thought  that  what  we  are  about 
to  do  is  the  task  assigned  to  us  in  the  order 
of  God's  providence  ;  that  it  is  a  task  which 
He  will  inspect,   and  that  it  must  bo   ex- 


FOR  DAILY  LIFK  1 49 

ecuted  as  well  as  ever  we  are  able,  in  order 
that  it  may  meet  His  approval.  There  are 
children  who  are  too  }'Oung  to  be  left  alone 
in  the  preparation  of  their  lessons.  The 
teacher  must  sit  with  them  while  they  pre- 
pare ;  they  must  work  under  his  eye,  and 
have  hi  in  by  them  to  apply  to,  and  ask 
help  from  him,  when  they  come  across 
a  difficulty.  Now  some  of  the  deepest  les- 
sons of  divine  truth  are  to  be  learned  from 
our  management  of  children ;  and  the  way 
of  so  doing  work,  as  that  it  may  be  a  source 
of  spiritual  consolation  and  strength,  is 
among  these  lessons.  Do  the  work  under 
the  eye  of  jrour  heavenly  Master ;  and  look 
up  in  His  face  from  time  to  time,  for  His 
help  and  blessing ;  an  internal  colloquy 
with  Him,  ever  and  anon,  so  far  from  being 
a-  distraction,  will  be  a  furtherance.  For  no 
work  can  in  an}'  sense  prosper  which  is  not 
done  with  a  bright,  elastic  spirit,  and  there 


l5o  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

is  no  means  of  keeping  the  spirit  bright  and 
elastic  bat  by  keeping  it  near  to  God.  Do 
but  keep  as  close  under  His  eye  when  work- 
ing as  you  can  contrive  to  do,  and  open 
your   heart  to  Him  as  often  as   you   can. 


THE  THING  THAT  I  LONG  FOR. 

Thou,  O  Lord  God,  art  the  tiling  that  I  long  for.— Ps.  Ixxi  4. 
(Prayer-Book  Version.) 

Thou  art  the  thing  that  I  long  for, 

Though  there  are  beautiful  things, 

Things  to  delight  and  enrapture, 

Even  in  earth's  "nether  springs." 

Thou  art  the  thing  that  I  long  for  ! 
Give  Thyself  wholly  to  me  ! 
Other  things  crumble  and.  vanish  ; 
Nothing  contents  mo  but  Thee  ! 

Thou  art  the  thing  that  I  long  for  ! 
Lord,  I  believe  Thou  art  near  ! 
Where  could  these  longings  find  utterance, 
But  in  Thy  listening  ear  ? 

Thou  art  the  thing  that  I  long  for  ! 
Yes,  and  this  longing  of  mine, 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  l5l 

1  hough  almost  dumb  from  intenseness, 
Is  but  the  echo  of  Thine  i 

Thou  art  the  thing  that  I  long  for  ! 
O  that  each  sorrow  I  feel, 
0  that  each  loss  and  bereavement 
More  of  Thyself  may  reveal ! 

Thou  art  the  thing  that  I  long  for  ! 
Heaven  itself  will  be  fair, 
Fair  in  its  glorious  completeness, 
Chiefly  because  Thou  art  there  ! 


A  CLOSER  WALK. 

"Keep  close  intimacies  with  Jesus," 
ivrote  one  who  had  proved  the  blessedness 
of  a  Divine  companionship.  "  Oh !  believe 
that  God  is  near  you  at  all  times.  Culti- 
vate a  close  acquaintance.  Let  Him  not  be 
out  of  sight.  If  we  walk  at  a  distance  from 
a  friend,  and  see  him  but  seldom,  our  knowl- 
edge of  him  is  but  limited ;  but  if  we  live 
with  him,  dwell  in  the  same  habitation,  we 


I  52  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

learn  his  character.  Oh !  let  an  aged 
Christian  urge  on  your  mind  a  closer  walk 
with  God.  Be  much  in  communion  with 
Him." 

In  these  days  of  Christian  activity,  how 
needful  are  these  holy  admonitions !  Work 
for  Christ  too  often  absorbs  the  mind  and 
leaves  it  with  little  time  or  inclination  for 
communion  with  Him.  Heavenly-minded- 
ness  may  be  preserved  amidst  the  seen  and 
temporal,  but  it  is  born  of  the  unseen  and 
eternal.  It  must  be  cherished  by  daily 
communion  with  God.  Alone  with  Him, 
the  soul  is  fed,  strengthened,  and  refreshed. 
It  is  prepared  for  life.  A  close  abiding 
fellowship  with  Christ!  Who  that  has 
tasted  its  preciousness  would  relinquish  it 
for  all  the  pleasures  of  earth  ?  An  ever- 
increasing  acquaintance  with  Christ  .should 
be  the  : i i 1 11  of  every  believer.  He  is  ready 
— ready  for  the  closest  friendship  that  can 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  l5^ 

be  realized  here — ready  to  lead  the  willing 
soul  to  the  perfect  fellowship  of  the  re- 
deemed in  heaven. 


ON  RELIGIOUS  CONVERSATION. 

Let  me  give,  in  one  word,  the  remedy  of 
all  the  falseness,  shallowness,  and  emptiness 
of  religious  conversation ;  the  key  to  those 
stores  of  reality,  earnestness,  and  natural- 
ness, which  will  attract  rather  than  disgust, 
where  there  is  any  good  ground  yet  to  be 
got  at  under  the  growing  surface  of  rock 
which  the  world  forms  upon  the  heart. 
The  secret  is  unmasked  to  us  by  the  Great 
Teacher. 

u  Out  of  the  abundance  of  the  heart  the 
mouth  speaketh." 

Thus  we  have  the  recipe.  If  we  would 
talk  continually,  easily,  naturally  of  course, 
and  with  a  ready  finding  (not  making)  of 


1  54  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

opportunities,  here  we  are  taught  the 
method.  Let  our  heart  be  full  of  the  love 
of  God,  fall  of  devotiou  to  our  dear  Saviour, 
and  of  kindly  yearning  for  those  about  us  : 
let  such  abundant  stores  be  accumulated  iu 
the  heart,  and  surely  there  must  from  time 
to  time  be  produced  some  samples  on  the 
tongue.  Let  the  great  end  of  life  and  its 
mighty  realities  be  indeed  and,  as  a  rule, 
the  first  things  in  our  heart ;  and  then  they 
will  hardly  be  always  the  last  things  on  the 
lips.  Let  us  be  setting  our  life  daily  to 
the  pattern  of  Christ's  life,  and  assuredly 
then  something  of  that  ever-ready  and  un- 
forced speaking  of  Christ  concerning  His 
Father's  business — not  dragged  into  but 
flowing  from  the  ordinary  talk — indeed, 
suggested  by  it,  and  growing  out  of  it — some 
dim  reflections  of  this  ideal  of  religious  con- 
versation, of  all  conversation,  would  be 
traceable    in    our   intercourse   with   friends 


FOE  DAILY  LIFE.  I  55 

certainly,  and  even  with  ordinary  Acquain- 
tances. 

Thus  on  Sundays,  it  should  not  be,  if  our 
hearts  were  in  the  day,  a  restraint  to  talk, 
but  relief  to  talk  out  of  the  abundance  of  the 
heart,  of  the  things  of  Christ  and  of  God. 
Truly  it  does  seem  hardly  natural  that  we, 
waiting  upon  the  shore  for  the  boat  to  take 
us  off,  should  preserve  ever  a  discreet  si- 
lence concerning  all  but  the  pebbles  and 
the  shells  under  our  feet. 

The  abundance  of  the  heart — that  will 
influence  the  talk  ;  and  you  can't  make  the 
sham  at  all  like  the  real  thing.  The  abun- 
dance of  the  tongue  merely  will  disgust. 
I  do  not  think  the  heart's  wealth  would  ever 
do  this.  It  might,  indeed,  rather  sadden 
where  the  hearer  perceived,  but  could  not 
appreciate  its  reality. 


I  56  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

THE  DAY  A  MINIATURE  LIFE. 

The  day  is  a  life  in  little,  a  miniature  life. 
Let  a  convex  mirror  be  suspended  overhead 
in  a  room,  so  as  to  form  a  small  angle  with 
the  wall ;  you  will  see  all  the  whole  room  in 
it,  wide  as  it  may  be,  with  all  the  details  of 
the  furniture,  and  all  the  company.  And 
how  is  this?  Every  objeot  is,  of  course, 
greatly  reduced  in  size,  so  that  every  square 
yard  of  space  in  the  room  appears  as  a  square 
inch  of  space,  or  less,  on  the  mirror.  Still 
there  is  nothing  which  finds  its  place  in  the 
room  which  does  not  also  find  a  proportion- 
ate place  on  the  mirror.  So  it  is  with  the 
day  and  the  life-time.  The  day  is  the  con- 
vex mirror  of  life.  Do  }rou  desire  a  sum- 
mary estimate  of  a  man's  whole  character, 
as  it  will  appear  upon  a  calm  review  after 
he  is  laid  in  his  coffin?  Study  him  for  a 
day  only,  from  his  rising  to  his  lying  down ; 
and  it  is  enough  ;  the  germs  of  the  life  are 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  I  57 

in  the  day;  and  that  microscopic  view, 
aided  by  a  little  effort  of  imagination,  puts 
you  in  possession  of  the  whole  truth  re- 
specting him.  Is  it  not  written,  "  He  that 
is  faithful  in  that  which  is  least,  is  faithful 
also  in  much*;  and  he  that  is  unjust  in  the 
least,  is  unjust  also  in  much  "  ? 


ANOTHER  DAY. 

Another  page  of  life 

Is  opened  unto  me  ; 
0  blessed  Spirit !  write  thereon 

What  seemeth  best  to  Thee. 

Write  lovely  acts  of  love  ; 

Write  holy  thoughts  of  praise  ; 
Yea,  write  a  copy,  Spirit  dear, 

Of  one  of  Jesus'  days. 

And  every  mark  of  mine— 
Oh  !  wash  it,  wash  it  white  ; 

Let  nothing  on  the  page  appear, 
But  words  that  Thou  dost  write. 


1 58  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

And  then,  lest  some  should  miss 
Whence  all  the  goodness  came, 

When  Thou  hast  written  all  the  rest, 
Write  underneath  Thy  name. 


"HOW  TO  ENTER  INTO  REST." 

Perhaps  it  is  years  since  Jesus  stood  and 
knocked  at  the  door,  and  you  heard  His 
voice,  and  opened  the  door,  and  He  came  in, 
and  sat  down  to  sup  with  you.  And  yet  all 
this  time  it  has  hardly  seemed  as  if  He  were 
inside ;  for  you  say  it  has  been  sa  different 
to  what  you  hoped — you  are  so  little 
changed,  so  little  different.  Perhaps  this 
may  bo  the  reason  ;  you  let  Him  in,  and  He 
sat  dowTn  to  sup  with  you,  and  you  found  it 
wonderfully  sweet  to  have  Him.  But  you 
have  treated  Him  as  a  Visitor;  you  have 
still  arranged  your  own  house,  swept  it  your- 
self, garnished  it  yourself,  cleansed  it  your- 
self,  repaired   it  yourself.     Some  day  you 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  l5g 

expect  to  go  to  His  own  Louse.  That 
will  be  a  very  lovely  place,  you  think, 
and  you  long  to  be  going  there.  Your 
own  house  is  so  small ;  3-ou  have  such 
work  to  keep  it  in  anything  like  order ; 
it  tires  you  so  and  worries  jou,  and 
you  have  hardly  time  to  think  of  your 
Visitor,  you  are  so  busy  making  the  place 
fit  for  Him.  Oh  !  poor,  loving,  weary  soul, 
He  did  not  come  to  be  a  Visitor ;  He  came 
to  be  the  Master  of  your  house.  Throw  all 
the  doors  open  to  Him ;  tell  him  you  can  do 
nothing  with  it;  put  yourself  at  His  feet, 
and  ask  Him  to  take  it  all,  just  as  it  is,  and 
He  will  rise  and  gird  Himself,  and  come 
forth  and  serve  you.  Your  house  shall  be- 
come His  home,  and  He  will  make  it  bright 
and  lovely  by  his  presence.  Then  He  will 
teach  you  to  serve.  Together  you  will 
work,  and  how  you  will  learn  to  trust  and 
love  the  Master-workman ! 


l6o  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

He  may  cast  many  things  aside  as  useless. 
You  will  grieve  to  see  them  go ;  but  you 
will  know  you  cannot  Lave  both  them  and 
Him.  He  will  not  send  you  to  work  alone  ; 
He  will  always  be  with  you.  He  will  not 
tire  yon,  nor  let  you  tire  yourself.  He  will 
not  work  you  too  quickly,  but  graciously 
and  gently,  and  His  presence,  His  part,  His 
share  in  it  all  will  be  your  rest. 

Then  put  your  whole  trust  in  Him,  and 
He  will  be  with  you — 

"To  cleanse  and  keep  you  clean." 


WAIT  ON  THE  LORD. 

There  are  two  bitter  enemies  of  man's 
true  life — the  world  without  him,  and  the 
world  within  him — the  world  in  his  heart. 
The  conflict  is  sometimes  terrible,  and  thou 
dost  sometimes  feel  as  one  left  without 
strength,  and  thy  hands  fail,  and  thy  heart 
grows  faint.     What  is  this  but  to  teach  thee 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  l6l 

where  thy  true  strength  lies,  and  to  cast 
thee  off  from  every  other?  "Wait  on  the 
Lord ;  be  of  good  courage  ;  and  He  shall 
strengthen  thy  heart.  "Wait,  I  say,  on  the 
Lord." 

Sometimes  the  discouragement  is  deeper 
}-et.  We  live  under  the  hidings  of  our 
Master's  face.  He  seems  to  have  covered 
Himself  with  a  thick  cloud,  which  our  sight 
cannot  pierce,  and  which  our  prayers 
cannot  pass  through — they  fall  consciously 
short  of  their  aim,  and  come  back  to  the 
dull  earth,  flat  and  unprofitable.  But  be  of 
good  cheer.  This  cannot  last  forever  nor 
last  long.  Only  "rest  in  the  Lord,  and 
wait  patiently  for  Him ;"  and  be  assured 
that  "  the  Lord  is  good  to  them  that  wait 
for  Him ;"  and  although  it  may  be  that 
now,  for  a  little  while,  thou  liest  void  of 
strength,  and  almost  lifeless  upon  the 
ground,  yet,  amid  this  chilliness,  still  wait ; 


1 62  COUNSEL   AND   COMFORT 

though  wounded,  wait  —  holding  fast  tho 
conviction  which  His  promise  gives.  "  They 
that  wait  upon  the  Lord  shall  renew  their 
strength.  They  shall  mount  up  with  wings 
as  eagles  ;  they  shall  run  and  not  be  weary  ; 
they  shall  walk  and  not  faint." 


FAR  OFF,  YET  NEAR. 

0  blessed  Lord ! 

Once  more,  as  at  the  opening  of  the  day, 

1  read  Thy  Word  ; 

And  now,  in  all  I  read,  I  hear  Thee  say, 
"  To  those  who  love  I  will  be  ever  near  ;" 

And  yet  while  this  I  hear, 
To  me,  O  Lord,  Thou  seemest  far  away. 

Thou  Sovereign  One, 
Greater  than  mightiest  kings,  can  it  he  fear, 

Or  blinding  sun 
Made  by  Thy  glory,  so  if  Thou  art  here, 
I  cannot  see  Thee  ;  yet  this  word  declares 
That  whoso  loves  and  bears 
Thy  Holy  Name  shall  havo  Thee  ever  near  ! 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  I  63 

I  bear  Thy  name  : 
That  love,  dear  Lord,  have  I  not  long  confessed  ? 

Thy  love's  the  same> 
As  when,  like  John,  I  leaned  upon  Thy  breast, 
And  knew  I  loved  :  oh  !  which  of  im  bus  changed  ? 
Am  I  from  Thee  e  Strang  3d  ? 

0  Lord,  Thou  changest  not ;  I  kno?;  <ha  rest. 

My  doubting  heart 
Trembles  with  its  own  weakness,   «*»d  afraid, 

I  dwell  apart 
From  Thee,  on  whom  alone  m^  nope  is  stayed  ; 
I  would,  and  yet  I  do  not  ki/*w  Thy  will 
And  perfect  love — and  still 
Trusting  myself,  to  be  by  self,  betrayed. 

0  blessed  Lord  ! 

Far  off,  yet  near,  on  me  new  grace  bestow, 

As  in  Thy  Word 

1  go  to  meet  Thee  ;  even  now,  I  know 

Thou  nearer  art  than  when  my  quest  began  ; 
One  cry,  and  Thy  feet  ran 
To  meet  me  ;  Lord,  I  will  not  let  Thee  go  ! 


I  64  COUNSEL   AND   COMFORT 

BE  SATISFIED  WITH   CHRIST. 

Not  a  few  ave  more  anxious  to  have  the 
gifts  of  the  Holy  Spirit  than  the  Spirit  Him- 
self, as  an  indwelling  One,  desiring  the  gift 
rather  than  the  giver;  longing  for  what 
Jesus  gives,  rather  than  Jesus  Himself. 
How  would  you  feel  had  you  given  to  a 
friend  a  precious  jewel  as  a  token  of  love, 
expecting  it  to  be  a  living  remembrancer  of 
yourself,  and,  lo  and  behold !  you  soon  dis- 
cover that  your  gift  was  so  highly  prized, 
so  absorbing  all  the  thoughts,  as  to  leave 
no  place  in  the  heart  for  yourself,  and 
hence  you  had  been  forgotten?  Let  me 
counsel  you  to  seek  for  nothing  beyond 
Christ.  Let  your  thoughts  centre  in  Him. 
Be  satisfied  with  Christ.  Having  chosen 
you  for  His  bride,  and  made  you  "  comely 
in  his  comeliness,"  resign  yourself  to  his 
love.  Rest  in  His  embrace ;  trusting  on 
the  fulfilment  of  His  promise  :  "  My  graco 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  1 65 

is  sufficient  for  yon."  And  be  assured  the 
needed  power  for  the  service  He  assigns 
you  will  not  be  withheld.  Remember  it  is 
His  service  in  which  you  are  to  engage — 
not  3'ours — so  you  may  well  leave  the  issue 
of  it  all  to  Him.  The  advancement  of  His 
own  glory  in  the  service,  will  secure  to  you 
an  endowment  of  power  in  measure  equal 
to  the  emergency,  and  as  often  as  occasions 
for  its  exercise  shall  occur. 


ON  HABIT. 

To  establish  a  habit,  we  have  only  to  con- 
tinue doing  the  act  which  is  to  constitute  it. 
The  nature  of  the  habits  we  form  determine 
our  character. 

Every  action  we  perform,  every  thought 
that  crosses  the  mind,  every  emotion  we 
fee],  is  in  reality  the  beginning  of  a  habit. 
If  the  habit  be  never  established,  it  will  bo 
only  because  the  state  of  mind   indicated 


J  66  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

by  the  action,  the  thought,  the  emotion,  has 
not  been  repeated  sufficiently  often  to 
awaken  and  determine  upon  it  the  strength 
of  the  iterative  power.  When  once  this 
power  is  worked  np  to  its  full  force,  and 
directed  in  any  line  of  thought,  emotion,  or 
action,  it  will  carry  the  mind  along  that  line 
with  a  force  it  has  no  power  to  resist.  It 
may  be  compared  to  a  mountain  torrent. 
When  it  first  breaks  forth,  it  wanders  for  a 
time  uncertainly,  but  having  once  worn  for 
itself  a  channel,  it  will  settle  down  to  it, 
ond  continue  in  it  forever. 


THE  DANGER  OF  NEGLECTING  PRAYER. 

One  word  about  prayer.  It  is  a  prepara- 
tion for  danger,  it  is  the  armor  for  battle. 
Go  not,  my  Christian  brethren,  into  the 
dangerous  world  without  it.  You  kneel 
down  at  night  to  pray,  and  drowsiness 
weighs  down  your  eyelids.     A  hard  day's 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  ^7 

work  is  a  kind  of  excuse,  and  you  shorten 
your  prayer,  and  resign  yourself  softly  to 
repose.  The  morning  breaks,  and  it  may 
be  you  rise  late,  and  so  your  early  devo- 
tions are  not  done,  or  done  with  irregular 
haste.  No  watching  unto  prayer;  watch- 
fulness once  more  omitted.  And  now  we 
ask  is  that  reparable?  Brethren,  we  sol- 
emnly believe  not.  There  has  been  that 
done  which  cannot  be  undone.  You  have 
given  up  your  prayer,  and  you  will  suffer 
for  it.  Temptation  is  before  you,  and  you 
are  not  fit  to  meet  it.  There  is  a  guilty 
feeling  on  the  soul,  and  you  linger  at  a  dis- 
tance from^ Christ.  It  is  no  marvel  if  that 
day  in  which  you  suffered  drowsiness  to  in- 
terfere with  prayer,  be  a  day  on  which  you 
betrayed  Him  by  cowardice  and  soft  shrink- 
ing from  duty.  Let  it  be  a  principle 
through  life ;  moments  of  prayer  intruded 
upon    by  sloth  cannot  be  made  up.      We 


l68  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

inay  get  experience,  bat  we  cannot  get  back 
the  freshness  and  strength  which  were 
wrapped  up  in  these  moments. 


"JESUS  ONLY." 

Dear  Lord,  only  Thee,  only  Thee,  I  pray, 
Fill  my  heart  with  only  Thee, 

Till  I  shall  pass  away. 
Many  do  I  love,  and  many  do  love  me 

But  Thou,  Thou  all  above, 
Thou  knowest  I  love  Thee. 

Dear  God,  be  my  guide, 
I  give  my  hand  to  Thee  ; 
By  day  and  night, 

Through  time  and  tide, 
I  know  Thou  wilt  keep  me. 

The  fairest  love  is  mine 
Which  in  this  world  may  be. 

Dear  Lord,  let  ever  Thine  be  mine, 
Thou  knowest  I  love  Thee. 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  1 69 

WHAT  HE  IS  AiiLE  TO  DO. 

Able  even  to  subdue  all  things  unto 
Himself. 

Able  to  make  all  grace  abound  toward 
you  :  that  you,  always  having  all-sufficiency 
iu  all  things,  may  abound  to  every  good 
work. 

Able  to  keep  you  from  falling,  and  to 
present  you  faultless  before  the  presence  of 
His  glory  with  exceeding  joy\ 

Able  to  succor  them  that  are  tempted. 

Able  also  to  save  them  to  the  uttermost 
that  come  unto  God  by  Him. 

What  He  had  promised,  able  also  to 
perform. 

Able  to  make  us  stand. 

Able  to  keep  that  which  I  have  committed 
to  Him. 

Able  to  build  you  up,  and  to  give  you  an 
inheritance  among  all  them  that  are  sancti- 
fied. 


170  COmSJSL   AND   COMFORT 

Able  to  do  exceedingly  abundant  above 
all  that  we  ask  or  think. 

Believe  ye  that  I  am  able  to  do  this  ? 


FAITH  IN  THE  PROMISES. 

Think  of  that  wonderful  rule,  "According 
to  thy  faith  be  it  unto  thee !"  Have  we  not 
had  a  private  version  of  the  promises  some- 
thing in  thiswise:  "Blessed  are  they  that 
do  hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness,  for 
tiny  shall  go  on  hungering  and  thirsting  "  ? 
When  we  look  over  our  lives,  can  we  not  see 
that  according  to  our  faith  so  it  has  been 
unto  us  ?  We  have  gone  hungering  and 
thirsting  ;  Ave  have  had  just  enough  strength 
to  labor  and  not  conquer.  It  is  a  very 
different  thing  to  read  the  Bible  with  this 
hidden  spirit  of  mental  reservation,  or  even 
with  the  conviction  that  these  have  been 
fulfilled  to  a  favored  few,  and  the  firm  be- 
lief  that   they  will  be  granted  in  all  their 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  I  7 '* 

fullness  to  ourselves  individually.  Try  it 
but  once,  and  see  if  it  does  not  seem  a  new 
book  to  you. 

Ob,  let  us  pause  to  think  if  we  could  but 
believe  God's  gracious  words,  what  joy, 
what  confidence  would  fill  our  souls  !  If  we 
could  but  silence  these  whispers  of  distrust, 
how  soon  the  faith  of  Paul  would  bring  the 
peace  of  Paul  into  our  hearts ! 


UNTO  THEE. 
No,  not  despairingly 

Come  I  to  Thee  ; 
No,  not  distrustingly 

Bend  I  the  knee. 
Sin  hath  gone  over  me, 
Yet  is  this  still  my  plea, 

Jesus  hath  died. 

Ah !  mine  iniquity 
Crimson  has  been ; 

Infinite,  infinite 
Sin  upon  sin  ; 


I72  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

Sin  of  not  loving  Thee, 
Sin  of  not  trusting  Thee, 
Infinite  sin. 

Lord,  I  confess  to  Thee 

Sadly  my  sin  ; 
All  I  am,  tell  I  Thee, 

All  I  have  been. 
Purge  Thou  my  sin  away, 
Wash  Thou  my  soul  this  day, 

Lord,  make  me  clean. 

Faithful  and  just  art  Thou, 

Forgiving  all ; 
Loving  and  kind  art  Thou 

When  poor  ones  call : 
Lord,  let  the  cleansing  blood, 
Blood  of  the  Lamb  of  God, 

Pass  o'er  my  soul. 

Then  all  is  peace  and  light 
This  soul  within ; 

Thus  shall  I  walk  with  Thee, 
The  loved  unseen. 

Leaning  on  Thee,  my  God, 

Guided  along  the  road, 
Nothing  between. 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  I  73 

CHEEHFULNESS. 

The  faculty  of  making  the  most  of  our 
blessings  is  a  very  happy  one.  The  Span- 
iard of  whom  Southey  tells  that  he  always 
put  on  his  magnifying  glasses  when  he  ate 
cherries,  in  order  to  make  them  seem  larger, 
had  the  true  philosophy  of  life.  The  good 
things  that  fall  to  the  share  of  most  men  in 
this  world  are  not  so  numerous  but  that 
they  will  bear  a  little  exaggeration,  and  it 
is  much  wiser  to  make  the  most  of  them 
than  to  grumble  because  they  are  not  more 
numerous.  It  is  surprising  how  narrow 
means  and  simple  pleasures  may  be  eked 
out  by  a  little  invention.  Sydney  Smith, 
that  great  master  of  human  happiness,  used 
to  cry  out,  "  Glorify  the  room,"  and,  the 
windows  being  thrown  open,  let  in  a  blaze 
of  sunshine  and  flowers.  The  ancient  Pom- 
peiians,  who  were  wise  in  their  day  and 
generation,  seem  to  have  well  understood 


174  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

the  art  of  making  the  most  of  everything. 
Their  gardens  were  very  diminutive,  but  by 
painting  the  surrounding  walls  with  plants 
and  landscapes,  their  little  area  became  in- 
definitely enlarged  to  the  eye  of  the  ob- 
server, just  as  our  shop-keepers  enlarge 
their  premises  and  multiply  their  goods  by 
the  aid  of  mirrors.  It  is  well  to  glorify  our 
lives  in  this  way  a  little  by  throwing  open 
the  windows  and  taking  an  enlarged  view 
of  all  our  blessings. 


TUE  PRESENCE  OF  Q-OD. 

The  Christian  life  should  never,  can 
never,  be  a  solitary  one ;  a  life  of  service 
must  be  a  life  of  love.  And  no  path  can  be 
barren  if  the  fountain  of  living  waters  flows 
by  its  side.  Yet  there  are  lives  which  be- 
reavement has  left  very  poor  in  natural 
companionship,  and  homes  which  at  times 
seem  silent  when  the  echo  of  other  full  and 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  17$ 

joyous  firesides  readies  them.  And  there 
are  those  who  have  no  homes  on  earth, 
dwelling  as  strangers  in  the  homes  of  oth- 
ers ;  and  in  all  lives  there  are  lonely  hours, 
hours  when  trial  and  perplexity  come,  and 
the  friend  on  whose  sympathy  and  judg- 
ment we  would  lean  is  not  near ;  and  in 
many  hearts  there  are  places  too  tender 
for  any  human  hand  to  touch. 

What  a  truth,  then,  is  that  which  turns 
hours  of  loneliness  into  hours  of  the  richest 
and  blessed  companionship ;  companion- 
ship which  makes  the  heart  glow  and  the 
face  shine,  so  that  those  who  dwell  much  in 
it  bear  a  visible  and  sensible  sunshine  with 
them  wherever  they  come. 

For  the  presence  of  God  is  no  abstract 
truth,  no  mere  presence  of  a  sun,  to  whose 
light  we  may  lay  open  our  souls  as  the  flow- 
ers their  leaves,  and  be  transfigured;  but 
the   communion   of   spirit   with   spirit ;   no 


1/6  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

mere  presence  of  an  angel  watching  us, 
loving  ns  in  silence.  It  is  the  presence  of 
One  with  whom  we  may  have  intercourse  as 
a  man  with  his  friends ;  to  whom  we  may 
speak — speak  of  everything  which  interests 
ns ;  make  requests  and  have  them  granted, 
ask  questions  and  have  them  answered ; 
One  who  is  not  silent  towards  ns.  Oh,  let 
us  bathe  ourselves  in  this  joy  ;  drink,  yea, 
drink  abundantly  of  it,  and  be  refreshed! 
Let  us  begin  every  prayer  remembering  it, 
and  arise  from  every  prayer  strengthened 
with  the  remembrance ;  read  the  Bible  as 
the  word  of  One  present ;  speak  of  Him  as 
One  present;  carry  it  with  us  all  day  as 
our  shield  and  strength,  and  rest  in  it  all 
night. 


IN  THY  PRESENCE. 

Tins  beautiful  hymn  was  one  of  the  prison 
songs  of  Madame  Guy  on.     Her  life  of  exile 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  *77 

and  imprisonment  is  a  striking  illustration 
of  the  truth  that  the  believer's  happiness  is 
independent  of  outward  events. 

0  Thou  !  by  long  experience  tried, 
Near  whom  no  grief  can  long  abide  ; 
My  Lord,  bow  full  of  sweet  content 

1  pass  my  years  of  banishment ! 

All  scenes  alike  engaging  prove 
To  souls  impressed  with  sacred  love  ! 
Where'er  they  dwell,  they  dwell  in  Thee  ; 
In  heaven,  in  earth,  or  on  the  sea. 

To  me  remains  nor  place  nor  time  ! 
My  country  is  in  every  clime  ; 
I  can  be  calm  and  free  from  care 
On  any  shore,  since  God  is  there. 

While  place  we  seek,  or  place  we  shun, 
The  soul  finds  happiness  in  none  ; 
But  with  my  God  to  guide  my  way, 
'Tis  equal  joy  to  go  or  stay. 

Could  I  be  cast  where  Thou  art  not, 
That  were  indeed  a  dreadful  lot ; 
But  regions  none  remote  I  call, 
Secure  of  finding  God  in  all. 
12 


1  7^  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

LIFE'S  DRUDGERIES. 

If  done  for  Christ,  all  is  grand,  the  work 
of  spade,  of  needle,  or  pen,  or  sceptre. 
Let  those  who  are  weary  of  life's  lowly  duties 
recall  the  lines  of  holy  George  Herbert : 

"  Nothing  is  so  mean, 

"Wliioh,  when  enacted  for  Thy  sake, 

Will  not  grow  bright  and  clean. 
A  servant  with  this  clause 

Makes  drudgery  divine  : 
Who  sweeps  a  room  as  for  Thy  laws, 

Makes  that  and  the  action  fine." 

And  let  it  be  remembered  that  God  has 
given  His  leaders  just  such  training  that  He 
has  never  allowed  a  man  to  take  a  conspicu- 
ous place  in  any  department  of  human 
society  until  that  man  has  spent  years  in 
unknown,  weary,  wasting  drudgery.  In 
professional,  mercantile,  social,  scientific, 
political,  and  military  life,  He  has  trained  in 
gloom,  and  labor,  and  burden-bearing,  and 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  I  79 

routine  drudgery,  the  men  who  were  to  lead 
the  world.  So,  in  the  back  side  of  the  solitary 
desert,  He  trained  Moses ;  so,  behind  the 
plough,  and  among  the  sheep,  and  in  the 
fishing-boats,  He  reared  Elisha,  aud  David, 
and  the  Disciples.  "  He  that  is  faithful  over 
a  few  things  shall  be  made  ruler  over 
many,"  is  a  principle  in  His  kingdom. 

What  if  no  eye  sees  us,  what  if  no  voice 
praises?  At  night,  when  the  dull,  unappre- 
ciated work  is  over,  we  can  go  to  Jesus,  and 
meet  the  glad  recognition  of  His  eye,  and 
lay  our  heads  on  His  shoulder  and  fall  asleep, 
listening  to  His  voice  murmuring  the 
applause  of,  "Well  done!  well  done!  well 
done !"  While  we  work  in  alleys  and 
wharves,  with  drays  and  carts,  in  back  shops, 
over  saw,  or  needle,  or  pen,  or  in  some 
school  of  hard,  dull  children,  He  is  waiting 
for  us,  and  as  we  close  the  door  behind  us 
and  move,  weary  and  heavy  laden,  to  our 


i8o 


COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 


homes,  He  opens  His  arms  and  says,  "  Come 
to  me,  come  and  find  rest." 


THE   CALL. 
Come,  labor  on  ; 
The  laborers  are  few,  the  field  is  wide  ; 

New  stations  must  be  filled  and  blanks  supplied  ; 
From  voices  distant  far,  or  near  at  home, 
The  call  is,  "Come." 
Come,  labor  on  : 
The  enemy  is  watching,  night  and  day, 

To  sow  the  tarss,  to  snatch  the  seed  away  ; 
"While  we  in  sleep  our  duty  have  forgot, 
He  slumbereth  not. 
Come,  labor  on  ; 
Away  with  gloomy  doubt  and  faithless  fear  : 
No  arm  so  weak  but  may  do  service  here  : 
By  feeblest  agents  can  our  God  fulfil 
His  righteous  will. 
Come,  labor  on  ; 
No  time  for  rest,  till  glows  the  western  sky, 

While  the  long  shadows  o'er  our  pathway  lie, 
And  a  glad  sound  comes  with  the  setting  sun, 
"  Servants,  well  done  !" 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE. 


l3l 


WHAT  WE  MIGHT    HAVE. 

"  There  are  many  gains,  many  losses  in 
Christ,  over  and  above  that  great,  inappre- 
ciable loss  of  the  salvation  of  the  soul  in 
Him.  The  final  aim  may  be  attained,  and 
yet  the  hearers,  who,  for  love  of  a  great  or 
small  possession,  depart  upon  that  saying, 
"  Sell  that  thou  hast,  and  follow  me,"  may 
have  abundant  reason  for  going  away  sor- 
rowful. We  are  made  poor  by  what  we 
miss,  as  well  as  by  what  we  lose ;  a  little 
more  patience,  a  little  more  consistency, 
and  to  what  we  might  not  have  attained !  to 
what  tender  intimacy,  to  what  satisfying 
communications,  to  what  power,  what  rest, 
what  freedom !" 


THE  COMFORTER,  WHICH  IS  THE  HOLY  GHOST.' 
Holy  Spirit !  Infinite  ! 
Shine  upon  our  spirit's  night 
With  Thy  blessed  inward  light. 
Comforter  Divine  ! 


S2  COUNSEL   AND   COMFORT 

Like  tlie  dew  Thy  peace  distil ; 
Guide,  subdue  our  wayward  will ; 
Things  of  God  revealing  still, 
Comforter  Divine  ! 

In  us,  for  us.  intercede, 

And  with  voiceless  yearnings  plead 

Our  unutterable  need, 

Comforter  Divine  ! 

Search  with  us  the  depths  of  God, 
Bear  us  up  the  starry  road 
To  the  heights  of  Thine  abode, 
Comforter  Divine  ! 


EARTHLY  CARE   HEAVENLY  DISCIPLINE. 

Suppose,  in  some  bright  vision  unfolding 
to  our  view,  in  tranquil  evening  or  solemn 
midnight,  the  glorified  form  of  some  de- 
parted friend  should  appear  to  us  with  the 
announcement,  "  This  year  is  to  be  to  you 
cue  of  special  probation  and  discipline,  with 
reference  to  perfecting  you  for  a  heavenly 
state.     Weigh  well  and  consider  every  inci- 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  I  S3 

dent  of  your  daily  life  ;  for  not  one  is  to  fall 
out  by  accident,  but  each  one  shall  be  a 
finished  and  indispensable  link  in  a  bright 
chain  that  is  to  draw  you  upward  to  the 
sides." 

With  what  new  eyes  should  we  now  look 
on  our  daily  lot !  and  if  we  found  in  it  not 
a  single  change — the  same  old  cares,  the 
same  perplexities,  the  same  uninteresting 
drudgeries,  still — with  what  new  meaning 
wTould  every  incident  be  invested,  and  with 
what  other  and  subiimer  spirit  could  we 
meet  them  ?  Yet,  if  announced  by  one  ris- 
ing from  the  dead,  with  the  visible  glory  of 
a  spiritual  world,  this  truth  could  be  as- 
serted no  more  clearly  and  distinctly  than 
Jesus  Christ  has  stated  it  already.  Not  a 
sparrow  falleth  to  the  ground,  without  our 
Father — not  one  of  them  is  forgotten  by 
Him  ;  and  we  are  of  more  value  than  many 
sparrows — yea,  even  the  hairs  of  our  head 


I  $4  COUXSEL  AND   COMFORT 

are  all  numbered.  Not  till  the  belief  in  these 
declarations  in  their  most  literal  sense,  be- 
comes the  calm  and  settled  habit  of  the 
soul,  is  life  ever  redeemed  from  drudgery 
and  dreary  emptiness,  and  made  full  of 
interest,  meaning,  and  divine  significance. 
Not  till  then  do  its  grovelling  wants,  its 
wearying  cares,  its  stinging  vexations,  be- 
come to  us  ministering  spirits — each  one, 
by  a  silent  but  certain  agency  fitting  us  for 
a  higher  and  perfect  sphere. 


OUR  PRIVILEGE. 

The  disciples  of  John  were  in  great 
trouble.  They  were  perplexed  and  cast 
down,  and  knew  not  what  to  do.  In  their 
difficulties  they  went  and  told  Jesus.  It 
was  His  cause.  He  was  able  to  comfort 
them,  and  He  knew  what  to  do. 

We  are  often  in  trouble.  We  are  of  ten  in 
doubt.     What  we  ought  to  do  is  not  plain 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  I  85 

to  us.  We  are  disposed,  at  such  times,  to 
seek  counsel  of  a  friend  —  to  lean  upon 
a  huniau  arm.  But  it  is  our  privilege  to 
go  directly  to  Jesus.  Everything  affectiug 
His  disciples  concerns  Him.  Nothing  is 
beneath  His  care  or  notice.  If  troubles 
come,  He  knows  how  to  comfort  us.  If 
difficulties  arise,  He  can  lead  us  through 
them.  If  we  are  perplexed  and  cast  down, 
He  can  lift  us  up  and  make  our  way  plain. 
We  need  not  wait  for  great  trials  or  troubles, 
but  go  to  Him  with  all  the  little  things  of 
every-day  life.  He  loves  to  go  with  His  dis- 
ciples everywhere,  and  be  with  them  at  all 
times.  He  is  thus  an  all-sufficient  Saviour — 
an  ever-present  help  in  every  time  of  need. 

The  habit  of  telling  Jesus  everything  is  of 
itself  an  incalculable  blessing.  The  effect 
of  thus  telling  Him  brings  us  into  His 
immediate  presence,  and  is  the  greatest 
possible  safeguard  and  protection. 


I  86  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

THE  BURDEN  LAID  DOWN. 

"What  is  it  to  cast  the  care  on  God  ? 
Is  it  to  keep  the  heaviest  load, 

And  lay  some  trifling  weight  aside  ? 
Still  taking  thought  for  every  hour, 
As  if  the  Lord's  sustaining  power 

Were  still  unknown — at  least  untried . 
Is  it  to  shrink  at  future  things, 
To  start  at  what  the  present  brings, 

And  groan  whea  we  but  feel  the  rod  ? 
Not  to  rejoice  till  we  receive, 
And  only  when  we  see  believe  ; 

Is  this  to  cast  the  care  on  God  ? 
No,  the  believer  doth  not  so  ; 
As  Shiloh's  waters  softly  go, 

He  keeps  his  straight  and  even  way  ; 
No  evil  tidings  doth  he  fear, 
His  heart  is  fixed,  his  help  is  near, 

His  strength  is  equal  to  his  day. 
Onward  he  presses  for  the  crown, 
He  lays  his  heavy  burden  down, 

A  weight  the  pilgrim  cannot  bear  ; 
His  foes  without,  his  fears  within, 
His  griefs,  his  weakness,  and  his  sin, 

And  everything  that  causeth  care. 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  I  87 

Should  doubts  arise,  should  ills  betide, 
God  will  protect,  God  will  provide," 

He  saith,  and  pondering  in  his  breast, 
The  promise  of  his  faithful  Lord, 
He  still  believes  His  plighted  word, 

And  so  he  "enters  into  rest." 


NO  EXCUSE. 

"  Sleep  not  away  thy  time  for  prayer  in 
the  morning,  and  then  think  thou  art  suffi- 
ciently excused  for  omitting  it,  because  thy 
worldly  business  calls  thee  another  way. 
Jade  not  thy  body  with  overlaboring,  nor 
overcharge  thy  mind  with  too  heavy  a  load 
of  worldly  cares  in  the  day,  and  then  think 
the  weariness  of  the  one,  and  discomposure 
of  the  other,  will  discharge  thee  from  pray- 
ing at  night ;  this  is  to  make  a  sin  thy 
apology  for  neglecting  a  duty. 


OUR  EARTHLY   TIES 

Let  us  count  up  our  treasures  of  kindred  ; 
they  are  our  best.    Let  us  "  consider  "  them 


I  88  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

in  the  presence  of  our  Father  in  heaven.  Is 
there  any  tie  which  absence  has  loosened, 
or  which  the  wear  and  tear  of  every-day 
intercourse,  little  uncongenialities,  uncon- 
fessed  misunderstandings,  have  fretted  into 
the  heart  until  it  bears  something  of  the 
nature  of  a  fetter?  Any  relationship  we 
have  not  fully  realized  for  want  of  dwelling 
on  it?  Any  cup  at  our  home  table  whose 
sweetness  we  have  not  fully  tasted,  though 
it  might  yet  make  of  our  daily  bread  a 
continual  feast  ? 

Let  us  reckon  up  these  treasures  now 
whilst  they  are  still  ours,  in  thankfulness 
to  God.  Let  us  not  first  learn  how  large  a 
space  of  the  heart  they  fill,  and  might  fill 
with  grateful  *joy,  by  finding  how  large  a 
space  they  have  left  empty.  Let  us  extend 
the  circle  of  our  relationships  wide,  beyond 
the  home,  from  those  ties  of  kindred  so  close 
when    strengthened    by   early    associations 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  I  89 

within  the  home,  to  those  whose  connection 
with  us  Gocl  regards  as  no  loose,  mechanical 
bond,  but  as  one  of  His  appointed  relation- 
ships, placing  servants  and  masters  in  the 
next  ring  of  the  circle  to  parents  and  child- 
ren; for  there  is  one  feature  in  all  human 
relationships  on  which  we  can  none  of  us 
bear  to  dwell ;  yet,  if  we  could  let  the  heart 
gaze  on  for  a  moment,  whilst  they  are  yet 
ours,  we  might  give  ourselves  and  others 
much  more  joy,  and  spare  ourselves  much 
of  life's  very  bitterest  sorrow — the  thought 
of  what  might  have  been.  They  cannot  last 
forever.  One  by  one  they  must  be  severed; 
and  at  last  we  must  be  severed  from  them 
all.  Tightly,  tenderly,  let  us  bind  these 
blessed  ties  around  our  hearts.  Let  not 
their  strength  be  first  felt  as  they  are  bro- 
ken ;  let  not  our  first  conscious  clinging  to 
our  beloved  be  the  convulsive  clinging  of 
those  who  must   part.     Now,  now,   let   us 


19°  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

learn  the  full  worth  of  our  human  relation- 
ships, counting  over,  as  the  veriest  misers, 
the  full  amount  of  this,  our  best  wealth,  that 
we  may  use  it  and  enjoy  it  richly  as  God 
would  have  us ;  for  we  are  disciples,  not  of 
him  who  was  in  the  wilderness  until  the  day 
of  his  showing  to  Israel,  but  of  Him  who, 
before  His  ministry  as  the  Christ  of  God 
began,  dwelt  for  thirty  years  with  His 
mother  in  the  home  of  Nazareth,  who  has 
given  us,  as  the  deepest  name  of  heaven, 
"  My  Father's  House,"  and  as  the  dearest 
title  of  the  Church,  the  "  Family  of  God." 


INTERRUPTIONS  IN   OUR  WORK. 

We  are  too  much  wedded  to  our  plans, 
whether  they  be  plans  for  a  life,  or  plans  for 
a  day  or  an  hour;  too  little  loyal  at  heart 
to  the  will  of  God.  And  hence  arise  great 
uneasiness     and     discomposure     of     mind, 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  19 l 

which,  from  whatever  source  it  arises, 
cannot  fail  to  be  prejudicial  and  a  hindrance 
to  the  spiritual  life.  We  have  set  apart,  it 
may  be,  such  an  hour  of  the  day  for  the 
purpose  of  devotion  or  study.  But  just  as 
we  were  about  to  spend  it  so,  some  call  of 
necessity  or  charity,  arises  in  another  direc- 
tion. In  either  case,  whether  it  be  of 
necessity  or  charity  it  is  God's  call;  and 
not  our  duty  only,  but  our  happiness,  lies  in 
responding  to  it  cheerfully  and  lovingly. 
We  must  be  ready  to  go  out  of  our  way  if 
God  calls  us  out  of  our  wa}r,  or,  in  other 
words,  to  have  our  little  plans  so  modified 
and  corrected  as  to  be  brought  into  the 
scheme  of  His  great  and  all-wise  plan.  It 
is  every  way  better  to  do  what  God  intends 
for  us  than  what  we  intend  for  ourselves. 


*92  COUNSEL   AND   COMFORT 

GROWTH  IN  GRACE. 

Grow  in  grace;  because  this  is  the  only 
way  to  be  certain  that  you  have  any  grace 
at  all.  If  we  aim  not  at  growth  in  grace, 
we  have  never  been  converted  to  goodness. 
He  that  is  satisfied  with  his  attainments 
has  attained  nothing.  He  that  sees  so  little 
of  the  promises  of  the  inward,  transforming, 
elevating  influences  of  grace,  as  to  think 
that  he  has  attained  all  he  can  desire,  has 
never  understood  the  first  elements  of  the 
Christian  life.  No !  we  are  begotten  to  a 
life  which  aspires  after  perfection  ;  we  have 
desires  awakened  which  nothing  but  com- 
plete holiness  will  satisfy.  He  who  says  he 
is  content  with  his  progress  has  never  set 
out  to  heaven. 


SELF-KNOWLEDGE. 
This  did  not  once  so  trouble  mo, 
That  better  I  could  not  love  Thee, 
But  now  I  feel  r.nd  know 


FOli  DAILY  LIFE.  19 

That  only  when  -we  love,  we  find 
How  far  our  hearts  remain  behind 
The  love  they  should  bestow. 

"W.iile  we  had  little  care  to  call 

On  Thee,  and  scarcely  prayed  at  all, 

We  seemed  enough  to  pray  ; 
But  now  we  only  think  with  shame 
How  seldom  to  Thy  glorious  name 

Our  lips  their  offerings  pay. 

And  when  we  gave  yet  slighter  heed 
Unto  our  brother's  suffering  need, 

Our  hearts  reproached  us  then 
Not  half  so  much  as  now,  that  we 
With  such  a  careless  eye  can  see 

The  woes  and  wants  of  men. 

In  doing  is  this  knowledge  won, 
To  see  what  yet  remains  undone  ; 

With  this  our  pride  repress  ; 
And  give  us  grace,  a  growing  store, 
That  day  by  day  we  may  do  more, 

And  may  esteem  it  less. 


13 


194  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

ENCOURAGEMENT   TO  PRAYER. 

We  may  be  too  bold  in  our  maimer  of 
approach  to  God,  but  Ave  cannot  be  too 
bold  in  our  expectations  from  Him.  "  He 
that  spared  not  His  own  Son,  but  delivered 
Him  up  for  us  all,  how  shall  He  not  with 
Him  also  freely  (jive  us  all  things."  What 
other  pledge,  what  more  encouragement 
can  we  need,  why  we  should  not  draw  nigh 
with  the  largest  desire  and  the  most  heav- 
enly expectations  ?  The  act  of  prayer  will 
increase  the  power  to  pray  ;  while  the  en- 
joyment realized  in  the  effect  of  prayer 
will  stamp  the  duty  as  our  highest  privi- 
lege, as  the  support  of  our  daily  and  hourly 
life,  support,  and  consolation. 

Instead,  therefore,  of  saying,  "  We  have 
nothing  to  draw  with,  and  the  well  is  deep," 
let  us  try  what  faith  can  do,  and  with  joy 
shall  we  draw  water  out  of  the  wells  of  sal- 
vation.    Let   us   bring   our   empty  vessels 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  1°^ 

until  nofc  one  is  left.  Yes,  believer,  there  is 
indeed  a  bountiful  supply  of  grace — of  every 
kind — suited  to  every  want ;  grace  to  par- 
don, grace  to  quicken,  grace  to  bless.  Oh, 
see  then  that  you  come  not  empty  away ! 
Remember  who  it  is  that  pleads  before  the 
throne.  Remember  that  the  grace  you 
need  is  at  hand.  From  eternity  He  fore- 
knew your  case.  He  laid  your  portion  by. 
He  has  kept  it  for  the  time  of  need,  and 
now  he  only  waits  for  an  empty  vessel  into 
which  to  pour  His  supply.  He  is  ready  to 
show  you  how  infinitely  His  grace  exceeds 
all  thoughts,  all  prayers,  all  desires,  all 
praises. 


TRUST   TO  HIS  GUIDING. 

"  Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  that  they  go  for- 
ward." 

There  are  times  in  every  Christian's  life 
when  his  way  seems  hedged  up,  he  hardly 


I96  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

knows  where  to  turn.  If  his  earthly  affairs 
are  getting  bad,  or  Lis  children  are  giving 
him  trouble,  or  sickness  is  filling  Lim  with 
pain  and  weariness,  Lis  heart  will  sometimes 
sink,  and  fear  and  despondency  make  him 
miserable. 

Or  if  Lis  sins  and  infirmities,  which  he  Las 
been  struggling  against  ever  since  lie  called 
Jesus,  Master,  for  a  while  seem  to  Lave  new 
power  and  to  overcome  him,  he  at  times 
almost  gives  up  hope,  and  thinks  that  he 
has  been  mistaken  and  is  not  a  real  Chris- 
tian. 

Or  if  long  months  or  years  he  has  been 
kept  from  active  life  and  work,  and  made  to 
suffer  in  secret,  away  from  the  observation  of 
good  men,  and  not  permitted  to  go  to  church 
or  labor  in  the  Sunday-school  or  other 
Christian  fields,  at  times  his  hope  and  his 
heart  fail  him,  and  he  cries  out  with  David, 
"  My    tears  have  been  my  meat  day  and 


FOB  DA  IL  Y  LIFE.  I  9  7 

night,  while  they  continually  say  unto  me, 
Where  is  thy  God  ?" 

Satan  has  much  to  do  with  these  frames 
and  feelings,  and  God  permits  much  in  the 
Christian's  life  and  way  that  is  strange  and 
nrysterious.  We  cannot  explain  or  under- 
stand it ;  but  one  thing  we  know,  that  He 
has  said,  "  I  will  never  leave  thee  or  forsake 
thee,"  and  in  our  calmer  moments  and 
brighter  days  we  shall  believe  that  He  is 
leading  us  in  the  best  way. 

We  have  nothing  to  do  with  results,  they 
are  in  His  hauds.  We  are  to  go  forward  in 
the  path  He  has  evidently  marked  out  for 
us.  It  cannot  be  more  hedged  up  or  fear- 
ful than  was  the  condition  of  the  Israelites 
when  they  stood  with  the  Red  Sea  on  one 
side,  and  the  hosts  of  Pharaoh  on  the  other. 
Jesus  gave  to  Moses  and  his  people  on  that 
day  a  great  deliverance,  and  He  will  deliver 
you  ;  and  no  one  who  loves  Him  is  so  poor, 


19^  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

or  sick,  or  weary,  or  sinful,  or  helpless,  or 
troubled,  but  that  he  shall  be  kept  by  His 
mighty  power,  and  be  gathered  within  His 
fold,  safe  from  storms  and  tempests,  where 
no  sorrow  or  sin  can  crush  the  heart,  and 
where  "the  inhabitant  shall  not  say,  I  am 
sick." 


"THE  DARKNESS  HIDETH  NOT  FROM  THEE. 
Is  the  night  blackness  ?  doth  each  star 

Refuse  upon  thy  way  to  shine  ? 
How  strong  thy  consolations  are  ! 

The  hand  that  leads  thee  is  divine  ; 
God  waiteth  for  no  guiding  ray, 
To  Him  the  night  shines  as  the  day  ; 

It  is  not  dark  to  the  Lord. 

Are  the  mists  heavy  ?  closing  round 
Thy  pilgrim  road  on  every  side? 

Life  drawn  within  that  narrow  bound, 
The  world  beyond  forlornly  wide  ? 

Poor  weary  child,  are  thine  eyes  dim  ? 

Trust  thyself  wholly  then  to  Him  : 
It  is  not  dark  to  the  Lord. 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  199 

Are  the  clouds  thickening?  covering  all 

Thy  little  spot  of  fair  blue  sky  ? 
Do  the  great  drops  begin  to  fall, 

And  winds  and  lightnings  round  thee  fly  ? 
Look  unto  Jesus  :  fear  no  more 
To  follow  where  He  goes  before  : 

It  is  not  dark  to  the  Lord. 


THE  MORNING    HOUH. 

The  importance  of  the  morning  hoar 
cannot  be  overrated.  That  the  period 
immediately  after  rising  should  be  scrupu- 
lously consecrated  to  God,  that  the  earliest 
thoughts  of  the  day  should  be  filled  with 
God,  that  the  homage  of  self-dedication 
should  be  renewed  before  starting  on  another 
pilgrimage,  that  we  should  listen  to  His 
small  voice  of  warning  and  encouragement 
as  it  issues  from  the  pages  of  His  written 
word — all  this  is  so  essentially  bound  up  with 
ihe  peace  and  holiness  of  the  day,  that  one 
might  almost  say  the  two  are  inseparable. 


200  COUSSEL  AXD   COMFORT 

The  tone  of  sentiment  and  feeling  maintained 
throughout  the  clay  is  sure  to  take  its  color- 
ing from  that  morning  hour. 


SPIRITUAL  DEPRESSION. 

When  Satan  comes  with  his  suggestions  of 
doubt,  meet  him  with  more  positive  asser- 
tions of  your  faith  than  ever  you  have  made 
before.  I  say,  when  Satan  comes,  because 
all  doubts  are  from  him,  and  all  discourage- 
ments also.  The  Holy  Spirit  never  suggests 
a  thought  of  doubt  or  discouragement  to  any 
soul.  Never  !  Settle  this  matter  once  for 
all,  and  you  will  find  the  way  wonderfully 
Cleared.  Your  doubts,  then,  are  all  from 
Satan,  and  you  know  he  has  been  a  liar  from 
the  beginning.  Do  not  give  heed  to  them 
for  a  moment.  .  .  .  Consecrate  your 
power  of  believing  to  the  Lord  Jesus  just  as 
you  have  consecrated  all  your  other  powers, 
and  trust   Him  to  keep  you  trusting.     Let 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  201 

nothing  shake  your  faith.  Should  even  sin 
unhappily  overtake  you,  still  you  must  not 
doubt.  At  once,  on  the  discovery  of  it,  take 
1  John  i.  9,  and  act  on  it:  "If  we  confess 
our  sins,  He  is  faithful  and  just  to  forgive  us 
our  sins,  and  to  cleanse  us  from  all  unright- 
eousness." Confess  your  sin,  therefore, 
immediately  upon  the  discovery  of  it,  and 
believe  at  once  that  God  does  forgive  it,  and 
does  again  cleanse  you  from  all  unrighteous- 
ness ;  and  go  on  believing  it.  Believe  it 
more  firmly  than  ever.  Believe  it,  because 
He  says  it,  and  not  because  you  feel  it  or 
see  it.  Believe  it  whether  you  feel  it  or  not. 
Believe  it  even  when  it  seems  to  you  that 
you  are  believing  something  that  is  abso- 
lutely untrue.  Believe  it  actively  and  per- 
sistently, and  according  to  your  faith  it  shall 
be  unto  you. 


202  COUNSEL  AND    COMFORT 

ABOVE  ALL,   THE  SHIELD. 

Faith  fails  ; 
Then  in  the  dust 

Lie  failing  rest,  and  light,  and  trust. 
So  doth  the  troubled  soul  itself  distress, 
And  choke  the  fountain  in  the  wilderness. 
I  care  not  what  your  peace  assails  ! 
The  deep  root  is  :  faith  fails. 

Faith  fails  ; 
When  in  the  breast 

The  Lord's  sweet  presence  doth  not  rest  ; 
For  who  believes,  clouds  cannot  make  afraid  ; 
He  knows  the  sun  doth  shine  behind  the  shade  ; 
He  rides  at  anchor  through  the  gales. 
Do  you  not  so  ?  faith  fails. 

Faith  fails  ; 
Its  foes  alarm, 

And  persecution's  threats  disarm  ; 
False  friends  can  scarcely  wish  it  a  good-day, 
Before  it  taketh  fright  and  shrinks  away. 
"When  God  doth  guard,  what  foe  prevails  ! 
Why  then  the  fear  ?  faith  fails. 

Faith  fails  ; 
Else  cares  would  die, 
And  we  should  on  God's  care  rely. 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  ■ 

Man  for  the  coming  day  doth  grieve  and  fret, 
And  all  pist  days  doth  sinfully  forget. 
For  every  beast  God's  care  avails, 
Why  not  for  us  ?  faith  fails. 

Faith  fails  ; 
Then  corneth  fears. 
If  sickness  comes,  if  death  is  near, 
O  man,  why  is  it  when  the  times  are  bad, 
And  the  days  evil,  that  thy  face  is  sad  ? 
How  is  it  that  thy  courage  quails  ? 
It  must  be  this  :  faith  fails. 

My  God ! 
Let  my  faith  be 
Living  or  working  actively, 
With  hope  and  joy,  that  death  may  not  surprise 
So  let  them  sweetly  close  my  eyes. 
The  Christian's  life  to  death  may  yield  ; 
Hope  stands,  faith  has  the  field. 


LIFT  UP  YOUR  HEARTS. 

Do  you  ever  use  ejaculatory  prayer?  Do 
you  ever  lift  up  your  heart  to  God  iu  the 
midst  of  your  work,  praying  Him  to  shield 


204  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

you  from  temptation,  to  bless  you  in  what 
you  are  doing,  and,  at  all  events,  not  to  let 
yon  wander  very  far  from  His  side?  Do 
not  say  it  is  impossible ;  for  to  this  and  no 
lower  standard  you  are  called,  both  b}T  the 
constitution  of  your  nature,  and  by  the  pre- 
cept, "  Pray  without  ceasing ;"  and  by  the 
grace  of  God  all  things  which  He  commands 
are  possible.  You  will  say,  perhaps,  "I 
try  to  keep  my  mind  continually  in  tlie 
right  track;  but  alas!  it  is  thrown  off  its 
balance  a  thousand  times  a  day,  by  having 
to  do  things  in  a  hurry  and  against  time; 
by  a  warm  conversation ;  b}r  a  piece  of  in- 
teresting news ;  by  domestic  worries  and 
cares ;  by  little  rubs  of  temper."  So  it  is 
most  truly.  The  mind  wants  steadying  and 
setting  right  many  times  a  day.  It  resem- 
bles a  compass  placed  on  a  rickety  table  ; 
the  least  stir  of  the  table  makes  the  needle 
swing  round  and  point  untrue.     Let  it  set- 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  2  CO 

tie,  then,  till  it  points  aright.  Be  perfectly 
silent  for  a  few  moments,  thinking  of  Jesus  ; 
there  is  an  almost  divine  force  in  silence. 
Drop  the  thing  that  worries,  that  excites, 
that  interests,  that  thwarts  you  ;  let  it  fall, 
like  a  sediment,  to  the  bottom,  until  the 
soul  is  no  longer  turbid ;  and  say  se- 
cretly' :  "  Grant,  I  beseech  Thee,  merciful 
Lord,  to  thy  faithful  servant  pardon  and 
peace ;  that  I  may  be  cleansed  from  all  my 
sins,  and  serve  Thee  with  a  quiet  mind." 
Yes!  with  a  quiet  mind.  We  cannot  serve 
Him  with  a  turbid  one ;  it  is  a  mere  im- 
possibility. Thus  composing  ourselves 
from  time  to  time,  thus  praying,  and  set- 
ting the  mind's  needle  true,  we  shall  little 
by  little  approximate  towards  that  devout 
frame  which  binds  the  soul  to  its  true  cen- 
tre, even  while  it  travels  through  worldly 
business,  worldly  excitements,  worldly  cares. 


206  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

CHRIST  A  REFUGE. 

•  •  A  man  shall  be  as  a  hiding-place  from  the  wind, 
and  a  covert  from  the  tempest." 

Ouit  refuge,  if  we  will  but  enter  it,  is  al- 
ways as  near  to  us  as  our  danger;  it  is 
sometimes  nearer.  There,  but  a  little  way 
off,  comes  the  overwhelming  storm ;  but 
here,  not  a  little  way  off,  close  to  us,  at  our 
right  hand,  within  one  step  of  us,  is  our 
hiding-place.  The  happy  psalmist  well 
kuew  this.  "  God  is  our  refuge  and 
strength,"  he  says;  not  a  present,  but  a 
"very  present  help  in  trouble."  Speaking 
of  the  Church,  he  says  again,  not  "  God  is 
near  her,"  but,  "  G.od  is  in  the  midst  of 
her;  she  shall  not  be  moved;  God  shall 
help  her,  and  that  right  early."  There  is 
no  casting  out  of  any  one  who  is  hid  in 
Christ ;  there  is  no  keeping  out  of  any  one 
who  wishes  to  hide  himself  in  Him.  And 
it  does  not  matter  what  tho  evil  is  we  wish 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  20j 

to  escape.  There  is  as  good  shelter  in 
Him  from  what  we  deem  a  small  danger  as 
from  a  great  one,  and  we  are  as  welcome  to 
come  to  Him  for  it.  He  is  as  much  a  re- 
fuge for  an  aching  or  careworn  or  fearful 
heart,  as  for  a  perishing,  guilty  soul.  He  is 
a  hiding-place  from  every  wind,  a  covert 
from  every  tempest. 


TROM  SELF  TO  CHRIST. 

Many  timid  followers  of  the  Lord,  with 
broken  health  and  shattered  nerves,  add 
to  their  own  sorrows  the  often-recurring 
thought  that  they  have  grievously  departed 
from  God.  They  have  lost  some  of  the 
comforts  which  they  enjoyed  in  other  days, 
and  thus  they  think  it  was  better  with  them 
then  than  now.  The  overtaxed  brain,  the 
jaded  mind,  and  weary  body  cannot  respond 
to  the  joy  that  once  thrilled  their  souls  at 


2-o8  COUNSEL  AND   C0MF0R1 

thoughts  of    the   Lord's   gracious  dealings 
with  them. 

Distrust  not  His  love,  thou  tried  and 
tempted  one.  Jesus  is  the  same.  Thy 
heart  is  resting  on  Him,  or  it  would  not 
grieve  over  its  own  unworthiness,  and  that 
it  can  no  longer  offer  the  glad  sacrifice  of 
praise.  Christ  is  all,  all  that  you  cannot 
he,  and  He  is  thy  praise.  Fear  not !  His 
thoughts  are  "thoughts  of  peace,  and  not  of 
evil."  Another  thorn  in  the  chaplet  will 
make  heaven  the  sweeter.  Soon  shall  tlie 
thorns  be  exchanged  for  a  crown  of  glory, 
and  the  sight  of  Him  thou  lovest  shall 
make  amends  for  all. 


LOVE'S  MYSTERY. 

Care  and  labor  manifold 
Have  wearied  me  all  clay  ; 

I  hare  no  thought  or  language, 
I  have  no  strength  to  pray. 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  209 

But  Jesus  knows  I  love  him, 
Though  not  a  word  I  say. 

The  tempter  hath  beguiled  me  ; 

Earth  sought  mine  ear  to  win  ; 
Alas  !  I  cannot  answer 

How  I  have  let  them  in. 
But  Jesus  knows  I  love  Him, 

And  hate  my  heart  of  sin. 

The  tempter  will  accuse  me, 
And  death  shall  come  one  day  ; 

Justice,  with  fearful  charges, 
And  I  no  debt  can  pay. 

But  Jesus  knows  I  love  Him 
When  I  have  naught  to  say. 

I  have  no  voice  to  praise  Him, 

I  have  no  eyes  to  see  ; 
But  full  of  hallelujahs 

My  silent  soul  must  be. 
For  Jesus  knows  I  love  Him, 

"Without  one  word  from  me. 

O  Justice  !  dread  avenger  ! 

O  death,  in  Justice'  name  J 
Where  are  your  boasted  triumphs  ? 

Your  terrors  are  in  vain — 

u 


2IO  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

For  I  know  that  Jesus  loves  me  ! 
All  praise  to  His  dear  name  ! 


WATCHING  UNTO  PRAYER. 

"  I  prevented  the  dawning  of  the  morning,  and 
cried  :  I  hoped  in  thy  Word.  Mine  eyes  prevent  the 
night  watches,  that  I  might  meditate  in  thy  Word." 

When  the  heart  is  really  engaged  for 
God,  time  will  always  be  found  for  secret 
duties,  and  rather  will  be  redeemed,  as  with 
David,  from  sleep,  than  lost  from  prayer. 
And  when  we  see  a  man,  like  the  king  of 
Israel,  engaged  in  the  most  active  employ- 
ments of  life,  yet,  "sanctifying"  such  fre- 
quent seasons,  in  the  short  period  of  each 
successive  day,  "  with  the  Word  of  God 
and  prayer,"  we  cannot  want  a  clearer 
evidence  of  the  insincerity  of  the  excuse 
that  professes  that  no  time  can  be  spared 
from  the  pressing  avocations  of  tho  day,  for 
the  service  of  God.  It  is  not  that  such  men 
are  busy,  and  have  no  time  for  prayer ;  but 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  211 

that  they  are  worldly,  and  have  no  heart  to 
pray. 


THE  POWEB  OF  THE  CROSS   OE  CHRIST. 

They  were  living  to  themselves ;  self, 
with  its  hopes,  and  promises,  and  dreams, 
had  still  hold  of  them;  but  He  began  to 
fulfil  their  prayers.  They  had  asked  for 
contrition,  and  He  sent  them  sorrow ;  they 
had  asked  for  purity,  and  he  sent  them 
thrilling  anguish ;  they  had  asked  to  be  meek, 
and  He  had  broken  their  hearts  ;  they  had 
asked  to  be  dead  to  the  world,  and  He  slew 
all  their  living  hopes  ;  they  had  asked  to 
be  made  like  unto  Him,  and  He  placed 
them  in  the  furnace,  sitting  by  "  as  a  refiner 
of  silver,"  till  they  should  reflect  His  image. 
They  had  asked  to  lay  hold  of  His  cross, 
and  when  He  reached  it  to  them  it  laceratea 
their  hands;  they  had  asked  they  knew 
not  what,  nor  how ;  but  He  had  taken  them 


2  12  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

at  their  word,  and  granted  tliem  all  their 
petitions.  They  were  hardly  willing  to 
follow  on  so  far,  or  to  draw  so  nigh  to  Him. 
They  had  upon  them  an  awe  and  fear,  as 
Jacob  at  Bethel,  or  Eliphaz  in  the  night 
visions,  or  as  the  apostles  when  they 
thought  they  had  seen  a  spirit,  and  knew 
not  that  it  was  Jesus.  They  could  almost 
pray  Him  to  depart  from  them,  or  to  hide 
His  awfulness.  They  found  it  easier  to 
obey  than  to  suffer — to  do  than  to  give  up 
— to  bear  the  cross  than  to  hang  upon  it : 
but  they  cannot  go  back,  for  they  have 
come  too  near  the  unseen  cross,  and  its 
virtues  have  pierced  too  deeply  within 
them.  He  is  fulfilling  to  them  His  promise, 
"  And  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up,  will  draw  all  men 
unto  me  :"  but  now  tJieir  turn  is  come  at 
last.  Before,  they  had  o\\]y  heard  of  the 
mystery,  but  now  they  feel  it.  He  has  fas- 
tened on  them  His  look  of  love,  as  Ho  did 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  213 

on  Mary  and  Peter,  and  they  cannot  choose 
but  follow.  Little  by  little,  from  time  to 
time,  by  flitting  gleams,  the  mystery  of 
His  cross  shines  out  upon  them.  They  be- 
hold Him  lifted  up,  and  the  glory  which 
rays  forth  from  the  wounds  of  His  holy 
passion  :  and  as  they  gaze  upon  it,  they 
advance,  and  are  changed  into  His  likeness, 
and  His  name  shines  out  through  them,  for 
He  dwells  in  them.  They  live  alone  with 
Him  above,  in  unspeakable  fellowship  :  will- 
ing to  lack  what  others  own,  and  to  be  un- 
like all,  so  that  they  are  only  like  Him. 
Such  are  they  in  all  ages  who  follow  the 
Lamb  whithersoever  He  goeth.  Had  they 
chosen  for  themselves,  or  their  friends 
chosen  for  them,  they  would  have  chosen 
otherwise.  They  would  have  been  brighter 
here,  but  less  glorious  in  His  kingdom. 
They  would  have  had  Lot's  portion,  not 
Abraham's,  if  they  had  halted  anywhere — 


214  COUNSEL  AND   COMFOR'l 

if  He  liad  taken  off  His  hand  and  let  them 
stray  back — and  what  would  they  not  have 
lost?  What  forfeits  in  the  morning  of  the 
resurrection !  But  He  stayed  them  up, 
even  against  themselves.  Many  a  time  their 
foot  had  well-nigh  slipped.  But  He  in 
mercy  held  them  up  :  now,  even  in  this  life, 
they  know  all  He  did  was  done  well.  It 
was  good  for  them  to  stand  alone  with  Him 
on  the  mountain,  and  in  the  cloud,  and 
that  not  their  will,  but  His,  was  done  on 
them. 


IN  THE  FIELD. 

Fighting  the  Battle  of  Lifo  ! 

With  a  weary  heart  and  head, 
For  in  the  midst  of  the  strife 

The  banners  of  Joy  are  fled — 
Fled  and  gone  out  of  sight, 

"When  I  thought  they  were  so  near-*  > 
And  the  music  of  Hope,  this  night, 

Is  dying  away  on  my  ear. 


FOE  DAILY  LIFE. 

Fighting  the  whole  day  long ! 

"With  a  very  tired  hand — 
With  only  my  armor  strong 
The  shelter  in  which  I  stand. 
There  is  nothing  left  of  me — 

If  all  my  strength  were  shown, 
So  small  the  amount  would  be 
Its  presence  could  scarce  be  known. 

Fighting  alone  to-night, 

With  not  even  a  stander-by 
To  cheer  me  in  the  fight, 

Or  to  hear  me  when  I  cry. 
Only  the  Lord  can  hear, 

Only  the  Lord  can  see 
The  struggle  within  how  dark  and  drear, 

Though  quiet  the  outside  be. 

Fighting  alone  to-night ! 

With  what  a  sinking  heart ; 
Lord  Jesus,  in  the  fight, 

Oh,  stand  not  Thou  apart  ! 
Body  and  mind  have  tried 

To  make  the  field  my  own, 
But  when  the  Lord  is  on  my  side, 

He  doeth  the  work  alone. 


2l5 


2  I  5  CO UNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

And  when  He  hideth  His  face, 

And  the  battle-clouds  prevail, 
It  is  only  through  His  grace 

If  I  do  not  utterly  fail. 
The  word  of  old  was  true, 

And  its  truth  shall  never  cease  : 
*  "  The  Lord  shall  fight  for  yon, 

And  ye  shall  hold  your  peace." 

Lord,  I  would  fain  be  still 

And  quiet  behind  my  shield  ; 
But  make  me  to  love  Thy  will, 

For  fear  I  should  ever  yield. 
For  when  to  destroy  my  foes, 

Thou  lettest  them  strike  at  me, 
And  fillest  my  heart  with  woes, 

That  joy  may  the  purer  bo,— 

Nothing  but  perfect  trust, 

And  love  of  Thy  perfect  will, 
Can  raise  me  out  of  the  dust, 

And  bid  my  fears  be  still. 
Even  as  now  my  hands, 

So  doth  my  folded  will 
Lie  waiting  Thy  commands, 

Without  one  anxious  thrilL 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  2  1  J 

But  as  with  sudden  pain 

My  bands  unfold  and  clasp, 
So  doth  my  will  start  up  again, 

And  taketh  its  old  firm  grasp. 
Lord,  fix  my  eyes  upon  Thee, 

And  fill  my  heart  with  Thy  love, 
And  keep  my  soul  till  the  shadows  flee, 

And  the  light  breaks  forth  above. 


FRAGMENTS  OF  TIME. 

In  order  to  achieve  some  good  work 
which  you  have  much  at  heart,  you  may  not 
be  able  to  secure  an  entire  week  or  even  an 
uninterrupted  day.  But  try  what  you  can 
make  of  the  broken  fragments  of  time. 
Glean  up  its  golden  dust — those  reapings 
and  parings  of  precious  duration — those 
leavings  of  days,  and  remnants  of  hours, 
which  soon  may  sweep  out  into  the  waste 
of  existence.  And  thus,  if  you  be  a  miser 
of  moments — if  you  be  frugal,  and  hoard  up 
odd    minutes    and    half  hours   and  unex- 


2JS  counsel  and  comfort 

pected  holidays  — your  careful  gleanings 
may  eke  out  a  long  and  useful  life,  and  you 
may  die  at  last  richer  in  existence  than 
multitudes  whose  time  is  all  their  own. 
The  time  which  some  men  waste  in  super- 
fluous slumbers,  and  idle  visits,  and  desul- 
tory application,  were  it  all  redeemed, 
would  give  them  wealth  of  leisure,  and  en- 
able them  to  execute  undertakings  for 
which  they  deem  a  less  worried  life  than 
theirs  essential.  When  a  person  says,  "I 
have  no  time  to  pray,  no  time  to  read  the 
Bible,  no  time  to  improve  my  mind,  or  to 
do  a  kind  turn  to  a  neighbor,"  he  may  be 
saying  what  he  thinks,  but  he  should  not 
think  what  he  says ;  for  if  he  has  not  got  the 
time  already,  he  may  get  it  by  redeeming 
it. 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  219 

READ  WITH  PRAYER. 

The  Holy  Spirit  alone  can  make  us  feel 
the  thiugs  which  are  easy  to  be  understood, 
and  prevent  our  wresting  those  which  are 
hard. 

Never,  then,  should  the  Bible  be  opened 
except  with  prayer  for  the  teachings  of  this 
Spirit. 

You  will  read  without  profit  as  long  as 
you  read  without  prayer.  It  is  only  in  the 
degree  that  the  Spirit,  which  indited  a  text, 
takes  it  from  the  page  and  breathes  it  into 
the  heart,  that  we  can  comprehend  its 
meaning,  be  touched  by  its  beauty,  stirred 
by  its  remonstrance,  or  animated  by  its 
promises. 


AVOID  ANXTETY. 

An  anxious  mind  is  never  a  holy  mind. 


2  20  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

THE  BEAUTY  OF  HOLINESS. 

Do  you  recollect  the  expression,  "  The 
beauty  of  holiness?"  I  have  looked  at 
many  men  in  my  life,  who  were  stern,  and 
proud,  and  reliable,  and  sound  in  truth,  and 
sturdily  good,  and  have  wondered  as  I 
looked  at  them,  whether  the  thought  ever 
crossed  their  mind,  "  What  is  the  meaning 
of  the  beauty  of  holiness?"  and  whether  it 
ever  occurred  to  them  that  God  wanted 
divine  qualities  among  men  interpreted 
so  as  to  make  them  attractive  as  well  as 
useful. 

That  which  is  true  in  respect  to  the  ex- 
hibition of  moral  traits,  is  true  in  respect  to 
the  performance  of  the  whole  round  of  Chris- 
tian duties.  "We  can  take  up  our  cross  every 
day  and  leave  the  impression  that  we  are 
more  unholy  than  before  we  became  Christ- 
ians. I  think  persons,  after  becoming 
Christians,  sometimes  seem  to  be  moro  self- 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  22  1 

isli  than  when  they  made  no  profession  of 
religion.  There  is  such  a  thing  as  spirit- 
ual selfishness.  If  a  person  is  so  wrapped 
up  in  religious  self- contemplation  as  to  for- 
get those  around  about  him,  he  is  spirit- 
ually selfish.  At  any  rate,  many  persons 
who  leave  their  evil  ways,  and  attempt  to 
become  better  men,  create  the  feeling 
among  their  associates  that  they  have  lost 
warmth  ;  that  they  have  deteriorated  in  so- 
cial elements :  that  they  are  not  as  engag- 
ing as  they  were.  "  They  inay  be  safer,"  it 
is  said,  "  but  they  have  sold  their  beauty  to 
get  grace." 

Now,  I  hold  that  every  man  who  becomes 
a  Christian  is  bound  to  glorify  God  in  his 
conduct.  He  is  bound  to  illustrate  the 
beauty  of  religion.  He  is  bound  to  let  his 
light  so  shine  that  men  shall  be  drawn  to 
holiness  of  life,  and  not  be  repelled  from  it. 
He  is  bound  to  make  the  sanctuary  where 


22  2  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

he  has  invested  his  heart,  seem  like  a  par; 
dise  to  those  about  hiin. 


LORD,   HERE  AM  I. 
Still,  as  of  old,  Thy  precious  word 
Is  by  the  nations  dimly  heard  : 
The  hearts  its  holiness  hath  stirred 

Are  weak  and  few. 
Wise  men  the  secret  dare  not  tell ; 
Still  in  Thy  temple  slumbers  well 
Good  Eli  :  Oh,  like  Samuel, 

Lord,  here  am  I ! 

Few  powers,  no  wisdom,  no  renown, 

Only  my  life  can  I  lay  down, 

Only  my  heart,  Lord,  to  Thy  throne 

I  bring,  and  pray 
That,  child  of  Thine,  I  may  go  forth, 
And  spread  glad  tidings  through  the  earth, 
And  teach  sad  hearts  to  know  Thy  worth  ; 

Lord,  here  am  I ! 
Weak  lips  may  teach  the  wise,  Christ  said  ; 
Weak  feet  sad  wanderers  home  have  led  , 
Weak  hands  have  cheered  the  sick  one's  bed 

With  freshest  flowers  ; 


FOE  DAILY  LIFE.  223 

0  teach  me,  Father  !  heed  their  sighs, 
While  many  a  soul  in  darkness  lies 
And  waits  Thy  message  ;  make  me  wise. 

Lord,  here  am  I ! 

1  ask  no  heaven  till  earth  be  Thine, 
Nor  glory-crown  while  work  of  mine 
Uernaineth  here  ;  when  earth  shall  shine 

Among  the  stars, 
Her  sins  wiped  out,  her  captives  free, 
Her  voice  a  music  unto  Thee, — 
For  crown,  new  work  give  Thou  to  me  ! 

Lord,  here  am  I ! 


EEST  IN  THE  LOED. 

Many  of  the  children  of  God  hope  to  be 
saved,  and  yet  do  not  enjoy  that  true  satis- 
faction and  restf  illness  of  spirit  which  they 
might.  It  is  often  because  they  look  for 
happiness  separate  from  Jesus,  or  allow 
themselves  to  be  distressed  and  anxious 
about  all  the  difficulties  and  trials  of  life, 
instead  of  committing  every  one,  small  as 
well  as  great,  to  the  Lord,  and  then  resting 


224  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

upon  Him,  wailing  patiently  for  Him. 
11  Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace 
whose  mind  is  stayed  on  Thee,  becauso  ho 
ERUSTETH  in  Thee."  Ifc  is  the  feeling  of  the 
little  child  who  nestles  in  its  father's  arms, 
knowing  that  nowhere  else  is  it  so  happy 
or  so  secure;  and  if  it  leaves  this  safe  re- 
treat for  lessons  or  for  play,  it  is  still 
happy  and  contented  in  the  consciousness 
that  the  parent's  love  is  ever  around  it, 
providing  for  every  want  and  ready  to 
sympathize  with  every  trouble.  For  the 
soul  may  rest  on  the  Lord,  while  all  the 
powers  of  mind  and  body  are  actively 
employed  in  His  service. 


STEPS  TO   HOLINESS. 

What  does  growing  in  grace  mean,  but 
that  this  spiritual  intention  should  lengthen 
its  reach — should  extend  itself  more  and 
more  to   every  corner  of  our  life?     Some 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  220 

little  business  of  routine  calls  my  attention 
at  a  certain  hour,  having  nothing  sublime 
or  extraordinary  in  it,  but  the  neglect  of 
which  would  entail  discomfort  and  annoy- 
ance— a  visit,  or  a  letter  of  courtesy,  or  an 
interview,  in  which  a  few  necessary  words 
pass,  and  then  it  is  over.  Well ;  even  the 
most  earthly  of  earthly  actions,  those  which 
are  most  bound  up  with  this  transitory 
state  of  things,  and  which  have  no  intrin- 
sic  dignity  or  sacredness  whatever,  may  be 
spiritualized  by  importing  into  them  a 
spiritual  intention.  The  little  courtesies, 
for  example,  which  society  requires,  may 
be  yielded  simply  because  they  are  social 
requirements,  in  which  case  they  will  be 
often  done  "  grudgingly,  and  of  necessity  ;" 
or  they  may  be  regarded  as  so  many  oppor- 
tunities of  compliance  with  the  inspired 
precept,  "Be  courteous" — in  which  case 
they  will  be  done   cheerfully,   "  as  to  the 


226  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

Lord,  and  not  unto  men."  And  (generally) 
the  meeting  all  calls  upon  us,  however 
humble,  with  the  thought  that  they  come  to 
us  in  the  way  of  God's  providence,  and  in 
the  working  out  of  the  system  of  things 
which  He  has  appointed,  and  are  indica- 
tions of  the  quarter  in  which  He  would 
have  us  direct  our  energies,  is  a  great 
means  of  purifying  our  intention,  and  so  of 
advancing  us  in  spirituality.  For  nobody  is 
aware  what  is  going  on  in  our  hearts,  when 
we  meet  these  calls  in  a  devout  spirit ;  our 
friends  only  see  us  doing  common-place 
things  which  others  do,  and  give  us  no 
credit.  Bat,  in  so  meeting  such  calls,  wo 
have  praise  of  God,  who,  like  a  good  fa- 
ther, marks  with  a  smile  of  approbation  the 
humblest  efforts  of  His  children  to  please 
Him. 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  2  2j 

SINGLENESS  OF  PURPOSE. 

By  this  is  meant  that  every  end  proposed 
should  be  simply  and  solely  for  good,  for 
the  glory  of  God.  And  this  same  singleness 
of  purpose  is  to  be  carried  into  every  de- 
partment of  life.  God  and  His  glory  are  to 
stand  first.  Everything  is  to  be  shaped 
and  directed  with  reference  to  this.  "We 
are  to  do  nothing,  go  nowhere,  enter  upon 
no  enterprise  without  first  asking  God's  di- 
rection, and  without  considering  whether 
we  ought  to  do  it.  Oar  inclinations  and 
wishes  will  not  be  a  safe  guide.  These  we 
may  have  to  give  up.  There  is  something 
higher  and  nobler  than  the  mere  gratifica- 
tion of  our  wishes.  But  in  putting  duty 
first  we  shall  never  suffer  loss. 


CHRIST'S  SERVICE   AND   OURS. 

Oh  what  a  picture  of  devotedness  does 
His  lowly  service  present  to  us !     Look  at 


2  28  COUNSEL  AND    COMFORT 

Him  beginning  His  course,  knowing  each 
sorrow  that  was  to  befall  Him ;  foreseeing 
the  whole  course  of  rejection,  and  the 
shameful  end  of  His  pilgrimage ;  rejected, 
when  He  would  minister  blessing;  misun- 
derstood, when  He  gave  instruction  ;  suffer- 
ing not  merely  at  the  hands  of  enemies, 
but  more  acutely  from  those  around  Him  ; 
to  them  alone  He  said,  "  How  long  shall  I 
suffer  you?" — rejected,  misunderstood,  suf- 
fering, He  goes  forward  without  the  slight- 
est faltering  ;  He  never  stops  for  a  moment 
in  His  devoted  service  to  all  around  Him. 
To  the  very  end  of  His  course,  as  at  the  be- 
ginning, He  is  the  meat  of  all  who  need 
and  will  accept  Him.  We  think  when 
trouble  or  sorrow  comes  on  us,  that  it  is 
time  to  care  for  ourselves.  Not  so  Jesus. 
We  think  there  must  bo  a  limit  to  our 
self-sacrifice.  Not  so  our  blessed  Lord. 
We  think  that  our  interests,  our  credit,  or 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  229 

at  least  our  life,  must  not  be  touched  or  en- 
dangered. We  think  when  our  kindness  is 
rejected,  we  need  not  repeat  it.  We  think 
our  times  of  rest  and  relaxation  are  our  own. 
Oh,  how  unlike  to  us  in  all  wTas  our  blessed, 
lowly  Master!  Ob,  how  far  above  us  in 
all  things !  Nothing  moved  His  steadfast 
heart,  or  turned  Him  from  doing  good.  In 
vain  was  the  stupidity  of  His  disciples,  the 
rage  of  His  enemies,  or  the  craft  of  Satan. 
Jesus  never  wavered  nor  hesitated ;  His 
course  of  self-surrender  was  complete. 


REJOICE!    REJOICE! 
"  He  hath  given  us  all  things  richly  to  enjoy." 
The  love  of  nature,  and  the  power 

To  read  her  glowing  page  ; 
The  pleasure  of  each  passing  hour, 

In  youth  or  riper  age  ; 
The  buoyant,  bounding  pulse  of  health  ; 

The  strength  for  duty's  task  ; 
Bright  thoughts  and  garnered  mental  wealth, 


30  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

More  than  thy  soul  didst  ask  ; 
These  are  the  gifts  of  God— Rejoice,  rejoice  I 

The  hope  of  better  things  to  come. 

Of  higher  joys  in  store  ; 
The  vision  of  a  brighter  home 

Where  change  shall  vex  no  moro  ; 
All  that  the  present  brings  to  thee 

Of  blessings  in  their  bloom  ; 
All  that  the  great  eternity 

Can  yield  beyond  the  tomb  ; 
These  are  the  gifts  of  God— Eejoice,  rejoice  ! 


ST.  PAUL'S  THREE  PSALMS  OF  THANKSGIVING. 

First  for  the  gift  of  a  Saviour—"  Thanks 
BE  unto  God  for  his  unspeakable  gift." 

Second  for  triumph  through  that  Saviour 
over  every  trial,  temptation  and  sin, — 

"  Thanks  be  to  God  which  always 
causeth  us  to  triumph  in  Christ." 

And  lastly,  for  victory  over  death 
through  the  same  gracious  Saviour,  who 
"with  His  own  right  hand  and  holy  arm 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  23  I 

hath  gotten  Himself  the  victory,"   to  give 
it  unto  His  people, — 

"Thanks  be  to  God,  which  giveth  us  the 
victory,  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 


A  MOTIVE  FOR  CHRISTIAN  WORE. 

As  we  read  the  sublime  verses  in  the  lat- 
ter part  of  the  15th  chapter  of  1st  Corin- 
thians, commencing,  "  Behold,  I  show  you  a 
mystery :  We  shall  not  all  sleep,  but  we 
shall  all  be  changed,"  etc.,  on  to  the  words 
"  Thanhs  be  to  God  which  giveth  us  the 
victory,  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ," 
and  then  think  of  our  daily  straggles  with 
temptation  and  trials,  caused  by  our  own 
sins,  and  the  evil  that  is  in  the  world,  we 
are  ready  to  exclaim,  "  Oh  that  we  could 
leave  it  all  and  go  now  to  the  enjoj-ment 
of  this  victory  in  the  presence  of  Christ 
and  His  redeemed  in  glory."  But  as  we  read 
the  verse  which  follows,  we  see  that  it  was 


2$2  XSEL  AND    CO 21  FORT 

not  to  awaken  longings  such  as  these  that  the 
promise  of  victory  in  the  hist  conflict  was 
given,  but  rather  to  animate  us  to  zeal  aud 
earnestness  in  the  work  which  Christ  has 
given  us  to  do  here  on  the  earth. 

"  Therefore"  because  you  have  these  pre- 
cious promises,  "  my  beloved  brethren,  be 
ye  steadfast,  immoveable,  always  abound- 
ing in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  forasmuch  as 
ye  know  that  your  labour  is  not  in  vain  iu 
the  Lord." 


TILL  HE  COME. 
Till  He  come" — oh  !  let  the  words 
Linger  on  the  trembling  chords  ; 
Let  the  "little  while"  between 
In  their  golden  light  be  seen  ; 
Let  us  think  how  heaven  and  homo 
Lie  beyond  that  "  Till  lie  come." 

When  the  weary  ones  we  love 
Enter  on  their  rest  above, 
Seems  the  earth  so  poor  and  vast, 
All  our  life-joy  overcast? 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  233 

Hush,  be  every  murmur  dumb  ; 
It  is  only— "Till  He  come." 

Clouds  and  conflicts  round  us  press  ; 
"Would  we  have  one  sorrow  less  ? 
All  the  sharpness  of  the  cross, 
All  that  tells  the  world  is  loss, 
Death  and  darkness  and  the  tomb 
Only  whisper  "  Till  He  come." 

See  the  feast  of  love  is  spread  ; 
Drink  the  wine,  and  break  the  bread, 
Sweet  memorials,  till  the  Lord 
Call  us  round  His  heavenly  board, 
Some  from  earth,  from  glory  some, 
Sever'd  only — "  Till  He  come." 


LEARNING  THE  LESSON. 

The  believer,  as  lie  advances  in  self-knowl- 
edge, learns  to  bless  and  to  adore  those 
piercing  yet  enlightening  experiences  of  his 
own  weakness  which,  as  it  were,  let  daylight 
within  his  whole  spiritual  being.  He  learns, 
even  in  exclaiming,  "  "Who  shall  deliver  me 
from  the  body  of  this  death?"  to  rejoice  in 


2  34  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

those,  its  deep-seated  infirmities,  against 
which  he  continually  prays  and  strives ;  lie 
finds  many  things  within  him,  pitiable  rather 
than  sinful ;  hindrances  from  which  he  longs 
to  free  himself,  yet  learns  even  in  these  to 
recognize  his  true  though  humble  friends  and 
helpers;  him  they  compel  to  bear  the  cross; 
and  even  in  that  compulsory  bearing,  his 
heart  so  grows  to  it  as  to  desire  no  inde- 
pendent strength  or  virtue.  "Blessed  are 
ye  poor."  Blessed  are  the  souls  in  whom 
not  the  strength  of  nature  onty,  bnt  that  of 
grace,  has  been  brought  so  low,  even  to  the 
very  dust,  that  they  have  learned  to  call 
nothing  that  they  have  their  own. 

Often  must  the  believer,  like  AntaBUS, 
grow  stronger  for  having  touched  tho 
ground;  often  must  ho  experience  tlio 
ace  of  deatu  in  himself;  must  foci  him- 
self a  being  without  heart  or  hope,  incapable 
and  even  insensible,  so  that  he  may  learn 


FOR  DAILY  LIFE.  2^S 

to  trust,  not  in  himself,  or  any  other,  but  in 
Him  who  raises  the  spiritually  dead.  The 
Christian  must  hold  on  to  God  through  con- 
flicts and  agonies ;  he  must  fight  while  the 
blood  runs  down  and  glues  his  hand  to  his 
sword,  so  must  he  hold  on  when  that  hand 
is  benumbed  and  stiff  with  cold ;  when 
strength  and  consciousness  seem  gone 
together,  and  only  an  instinct  remains 
through  which  the  soul  is  able  to  fling  itself 
like  a  dead  weight  upon  Christ.  Yet  even 
here  is 

"  an  overthrow, 

Worth  many  victories." 

Through  being  chilled  and  mortified  in  the 
smallest,  most  inwardly  humiliating  things  ; 
through  being  beaten  away  from  the  broken 
cisterns  of  self  and  of  all  creatures,  we  learn, 
as  we  could  never  without  this  have  done,  to 
look  to  Christ  as  our  well  of  life,  and  so  to 
find  all  our  fresh  springs  in  Him,  as  to  be  able 


2jr>  COUNSEL  AND   COMFORT 

to  say  with  a  simple  an<J  sincere  heart: 
"Loud,  give  me  evermore  of  this  water,  so 
that  I  thirst  not,  neither  come  hither  to 
draw." 


FRESH  SPRINGS. 
■'All  my  Fresh  Springs  shall  be  in  Thee." 
"Why  is  the  "world  so  thirsty, 

So  restless,  ill  at  ease, 
So  careworn  with  its  pleasures, 
So  difficult  to  please  ? 
Because  the  truth  it  cannot  see, 
That  all  "fresh  springs  "  must  be  in  Thee  ! 

Why  is  Thy  Church  so  weary  ? 

Why  does  Thy  cherished  Bride 
Appear  so  sad  and  lonely, 
So  far  from  "  satisfied"? 
What  once  she  knew,  she  fails  to  see, 
That  all  her  "fresh  springs  "  are  in  Thee  ! 

Why  needs  she  so  much  urging 
To  work,  and  love,  and  feel  ? 

Why  craves  she  fresh  excitement 
To  stimulate  her  zeal  ? 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  237 

She  cannot,  or  she  will  not,  see 

That  all  "fresh  springs"  must  be  in  Thee. 

Too  true  it  is  !     On  every  side 
We  look  in  vain  for  Christ's  true  Bride  ! 
"Wo  hardly  recognize  her  now, 
So  faint  the  glory  on  her  brow  ! 
She  fives  an  outside  life— not  void 
Of  talents  usefully  employed. 
The  tilted  vessel  overflows, 
But  day  by  day  more  empty  grows  ; 
Too  seldom  is  it  filled  with  care, 
By  meditation  and  by  prayer. 
For  Christ's  own  Bride — how  strange  to  own  ! — 
Is  seldom  with  her  Lord  alone  ! 

Is  it  not  strange  !    With  what  surprise 
Must  it  be  seen  by  angel  eyes  ! 
But  that  my  own  deceitful  heart 
In  all  these  scenes  has  borne  a  part, 
The  sad  reality  would  seem 
The  groundless  terror  of  a  dream  ! 

I  should  have  thought  that  she  would  prize 
The  mute  appeal  of  those  kind  eyes, 
The  incommunicable  things 
Which  Jesus  Christ's  own  Presence  brings, 


238  COUNSEL   AXD   COMFORT 

The  siglib  of  the  Incarnate  Son, 
Unseen  yet  fondly  gazed  upon, 
The  speaking  silence  in  Him  found, 
The  wordless  voice,  "'Tis  holy  ground  ,:* 

Yes,  verily,  I  should  have  thought, 
Unless  by  sad  experience  taught, 
That  such  exceeding  tenderness, 
Such  all-surpassing  loveliness, 
Once  seen  and  tasted,  had  sufficed 
To  make  her  lose  horself  in  Christ ! 

I  should  have  thought  that  one  so  blest 
"Would  never  care  to  leave  her  nest, 
Unless,  on  wings  of  love,  to  fly, 
Led  by  the  glances  of  His  eye, 
And,  keeping  Him  in  sight,  fulfil 
Some  fresh  expression  of  His  will  : 
Then,  home  returning  at  His  call, 
Come  straight  to  Kim,  and  tell  Him  all 
Confess  her  failures  on  His  breast, 
Give  Him  the  glory  of  the  rest, 
And  then,  with  loving  heart  and  true, 
Ask  what  He  next  would  have  her  do  ; 
The  passion  of  her  heart  fulfilled, 
If  all  be  done  as  He  hath  willed  : 


FOB  DAILY  LIFE.  239 

His  thoughts,  the  standard  of  her  own, 
His  Will,  life's  sweetest  undertone, 
No  -work  of  love  too  great,  or  small 
To  undertake  at  His  dear  call ! 

-  I  should  have  thought  the  favored  Bride 

Would  cling  forever  to  His  side, 

And  need  no  pressure  of  alarm 

To  make  her  lean  upon  His  Arm  ; 

No  sudden  or  extreme  distress, 

To  prove  His  glorious  faithfulness  ; 

No  failure  of  all  earthly  things, 

To  drive  li3r  to  the  heavenly  springs. 

I  should  have  thought  she  would  not  care 
For  any  joy  He  did  not  share, 
Nor  any  earthly  object  prize 
If  Jesus  did  not  sympathize  ; 
Nor  let  herself  be  ' c  greatly  moved ' ' 
By  human  blame,  if  He  approved  ; 
Nor  have  a  single  plan  apart 
From  Him,  the  Sovereign  of  her  heart ; 
But  hang  upon  His  every  word, 
And  treasure  up  each  accent  heard, 
Each  tone  of  love,  each — less  than  tone, 
Each  look  of  love  that  said  :  "  Mine  own  J" 


24O  COUNSEL  AND    COMFORT 

And  never,  never  turn  away 
From  so  much  love,  and  coldly  say  : 
"  I  have  not  time  for  Thee  to-day  !" 

O  Jesus !    Wondrous,  loving  Lord  ! 
Untircd  still !    Be  Thou  adored  ! 
Thy  patience  v/iOi  Thy  ficlile  BrLlo 
May  well  attract  her  to  Thy  sido  ! 
Oh  !  that  she  may  Thy  whisper  hear, 
"  Return  !  Return  !    For  I  am  near !" 
And  ever  henceforth  taste  and  see 
That  all  her  fresh  springs  aro  in  Thee  ! 


UNTO  HIM  WHO  LOVES  US. 

O  Blessed  Saviour,  whose  love  to  simiers 
passe tli  the  comprehension  of  men  and  of 
angels,  and  will  be  the  theme  of  grateful 
praise  throughout  the  ages  of  eternity : 
impress  upon  us,  we  beseech  Thee,  such  a 
deep  and  abiding  sense  of  our  indebted- 
ness for  Thy  great  salvation,  that  wo  may 
wholly  live  to  Thy  glory,  and  serve  Thee 
in  holiness  and  righteousness  all  our  days, 


FOB  D AIL Y  LIFE.  ?4I 

until  we  join  in  the  songs  of  Thy  redeemed 
army  in  heaven,  where,  with  the  Father  and 
the  Holy  Ghost,  Thou  art  worshipped  and 
glorified,  world  without  end.     Amen. 


INDEX. 


PAG3 

All  Things  are  Yours Anna  L.  Warinp..    16 

Anxious  Thought 31 

A  Form  of  Unbelief 15 

As  we  have  Opportunity. 19 

A  Pillow-prayer Harriet  McEwan  Kimball.     51 

A  Precious  Promise G.  D.  M.     53 

All  in  Thee 61 

A  Gift H.  "W.  S.     65 

A  Good  Rule  for  Travellers W.  W.  L.  Jay.     71 

A  Solemn  Thought 80 

A  Noble  Life 98 

A  Thought  for  Friends Goulbttrn.  109 

Abiding  in  Christ 127 

A  Closer  Walk 151 

Another  Day 157 

Above  all,  the  Shield, 

Hymns  of  the  Church  Militant.  202 

\void  Anxiety 219 

4.  Motive  for  Christian  Work 231 

Being  Perplexed. 23 

Be  ye  Followers  of  God Goulburn.     78 

Be  Satisfied  with  Christ 164 


'2.J-4  INDEX. 

Coming  Back  to  Christ M'Cheyne.  52 

Christ-like George  Macdoitald.  55 

Complete  in  Him Anna  Warner.  50 

Consider  one  Another Anna  Warner.  70 

Casting  all  on  Jesus 120 

Checrf  alness 173 

Christ,  a  Refuge Bradley.  20G 

Christ's  Service  and  Ours Jukes.  227 

Desultory  Work Margaret  M.  Bbewsteb,  27 

Depression Whately.  98 

Evil  Speaking John  Wesley.  50 

Enter  into  Thy  Closet Cecil.  113 

Earthly  Care,  Heavenly  Discipline, 

Harriet  Beecher  Stowe.  182 

Encouragement  to  Prayer Bridges.  194 

Full  Best  in  Jesus E.  P.  S.  26 

Forgetting  the  Past F.  W.  Bobertson.  35 

Fellowship  with  Jesus Thomas  a  Kempis.  92 

Far  off,  yet  Near Anson  D.  F.  Kandolph.  1G2 

Faith  in  the  Promises 170 

From  Self  to  Christ Anna  Shipton.  207 

Fragments  of  Time Dr.  Hamilton.  21? 

Fresh  Spri 

Author  op  ,;The  Old,  Old  Story."  23G 

Greatly  Afflicted Nehemjah  Adan 

God's  \,:iv.-:  of  Answering  Prayer 1'27 

Growth  in  Grace Robert  Hall.  192 


INDEX.  2.1J 

Having  Nothing, 

Hymns  op  the  Chuech  Militant.     13 
He  must  Increase,  but  I  Decrease, 

Adelaide  Newton.     1-5 

Hope  for  All Baxtee.     34 

Harsh  Judgments Fabee.     37 

How  Shall  I  Read  the  Bible 87 

Home  Trials , Mes.  Peentiss.     99 

He  Knowefch  our  Frame, 

Authoe  of  "The  Old,  Old  Stoet."  140 

His  Answer 144 

How  to  Work Goulbtjen.  148 

How  to  Enter  into  Best 158 

Inward  Trials 85 

In  Thy  Presence Mad.  Guyon.  17G 

In  the  Field 214 

Interruptions  in  our  Work Goulbtjen.  190 

Jesus  the  Home  of  the  Solitary ....  Mes.  Chaeles.     61 
Jesus  Only 168 

Looking  unto  Jesus Staupitz.     39 

Life  in  Christ Doea  Geeenwell.     57 

Little  Things Gotjlbuen.  117 

Love,  the  Fulfilling  of  tli8  Law. .  .H.  W.  Beeches.  145 

Life's  Drudgeries De.  Deems.  178 

Lift  up  Your  Hearts , Gotjlbuen.  203 

Love's  Mystery Miss  Saea  Staet.  208 

Lord,  Here  am  1 222 

Learning  the  Lesson Doea  Geeenwell.  233 


246  IXDEX. 

My  Sins  and  My  Saviour J.  B.  S.  Monsell.  40 

More  Light  Needed McCnEYNE.  74 

My  Shepherd M.  S.  76 

d  and  Thy  Love 82 

My  Debt  to  Christ Bonar.  91 

My  Pilgrimage Bonab.  103 

Meditation Bishop  Hall.  112 

Mental  Growth Baldwin  Brown.  123 

No  Choice 75 

Not  Lost 146 

No  Excuse Guenall.  187 

0  God,  my  Heart  is  Fixed Anna  Warned.  9 

Our  Portion Beecher.  15 

One  of  the  Joys  of  Heaven Stroud.  83 

Our  Single  Acre George  Macdonald.  95 

Oneness  with  Christ Baldwin  Brown.  Ill 

Our  Work  Held  in  Everlasting  Remembrance, 

Pees.  Woolsey.  126 

One  Life Bona;:.  138 

On  Helping  the  Poor Baldwin  Brown.  137 

On  Religious  Conversation  . .  .Random  Thoughts.  153 

On  Habit Garvey.  165 

Our  Privilege 181 

Our  Earthly  Ties Mrs.  Charl; 

Promptness  in  Duty Macleod.  43 

Pillow  Prayers 93 

■  a  Service Mrs.  Cb  ^Rles.  128 

Past  Troubles II.  W.  Beecher.  134 


IXDEX.  2  4/ 

Quietness  in  Serving George  Macdonald.     77 

Rest,  Weary  Soul Pridiiam.  95 

Bead  With  Prayer Melville.  219 

Rest  in  the  Lord 223 

Eejoice  !  Rejoice  ! 229 

Sins  Remembered  no  More Adelaide  Newton.     24 

Sunday  a  Day  of  Gladness Random  Thoughts    38 

Sing  Away  your  Grief H.  W.  Beecher.     63 

Silent  Lives Random  Thoughts.   124 

Spiritual  Weakness 128 

Self-knowledge Trench.   192 

Spiritual  Depression H.  W.  S.  200 

Steps  to  Holiness . . , , Goulburn.  224 

Singleness  of  Purpose 227 

St.  Paul's  Three  Psalms  of  Thanksgiving 230 

The  Knowledge  of  God Goulbukn.  7 

The  Morning  Question Mrs.   Charles.  18 

The  Ministry  of  Sorrow G.  D.  M.  20 

The  Faith  that  Moves  Mountains 21 

The  Covering  of  Charity 31 

The  Sufferer's  Couch E.  H.  Bichersteth.  44 

The  Heart  of  Unbelief T.  D.  Crewdson.  47 

The  True  Standard Henry.  60 

The  Secret  Spring, 

Author  of  "The  Old,  Old  Story."  66 

The  Government  of  Christ 68 

The  Fatherhood  of  God H.  W.  Beecher.  81 

The  Secret  of  Success Bridgts.  89 


2^S  fXDEX. 

Trust  Him  Wholly II.  W.  Beecheb.     96 

The  Secret  of  Edifies  tion Goulburn.     98 

Thoughts  on  Public  Worship Goulburn.  10'.' 

The  Law  of  Christ Mrs.  Charles.  105 

The  Waiting  Time Stopford  A.  Brooks.  107 

The  Etsrnity  of  God. . . , Faber.  108 

The  Keeping  Power  of  Christ Dr.  Cullis.  118 

The  Precious  Blood G.  D.  M.  131 

The  Voice  of  the  Blood C.  A.  L.  135 

True  Best F.  W.  Kobertson.  130 

The  Example  of  our  Master Jukes.  138 

The  Spirit's  Guiding Goulburn.  142 

The  Art  of  Being  Miserable Kingsley.  118 

The  Thing  that  I  Long  For, 

Author  of  "  The  Old,  Old  Story."  150 

The  Day  a  Miniature  Life Goulburn.  150 

The  Danger  of  Neglecting  Prayer, 

F.  W.  Robertson.  1GG 

The  Presence  of  God Mrs.  Charles.  174 

The  Cull 180 

The  Comforter,  winch  is  the  Holy  Ghost, 

Hymns  of  the  Spirit.  181 

The  Burden  Laid  Down 180 

T«ust  to  His  Guiding G.  D.  M.  105 

The  Darkness  Hideth  not  from  Thee, 

Anna  Warner.  198 

Ihe  Morning  Hour Goulburn.  199 

The  Power  of  the  Cross  of  Christ 211 

The  Beauty  of  Holiness H.  W.  Beecheb.  220 

Till  He  Come E.  H.  Bickersteth.  232 


INDEX.  249 

Unconscious  Influence Macj.ttTjT.an.     63 

Unto  Thee Bonae.  171 

Unto  Him  Who  Loves  us De.  Schaff.  240 

Waiting  in  Faith Anna  Shipton.     11 

Wherein  we  Have  Peace 12 

What  wilt  Thou  have  me  to  Do 19 

What  All  May  Do Euskin.     22 

Waiting  and  Watching  for  Me 29 

Whitefield's  Prayer 42 

Work  for  All 48 

What  Jesus  Says  to  Me 71 

Worldly  Conformity Adelaide  Newton.     77 

What  it  is  to  Abide  in  Jesus Boaedman.     90 

Worldliness 109 

Wait  on  the  Lord Kitto.  160 

What  He  is  Able  to  Do 169 

What  we  Might  Have Doea  Geeenwell.  181 

Watching  unto  Prayer Bridges.  210 


